RENX top story picks for 2016

NO. 1 STORY 2016: Thousands flee as Fort McMurray burns

2016-05-04 -The largest wildfire evacuation in Alberta’s history forced tens of thousands of Fort McMurray residents to flee Tuesday as explosive fire conditions destroyed homes and businesses and caused a rapid succession of mandatory evacuations that forced people onto gridlocked highways under clouds of smoke.

Edmonton Journal – Globe and Mail – Bloomberg News

NO. 2 STORY: RioCan REIT repositioning its Canadian portfolio

2016-06-23 – RioCan Real Estate Investment Trust’s (REI.UN-T) December 2015 sale of 49 properties in Texas and the northeastern United States to The Blackstone Group for $2.7 billion ended last year with a bang, and it’s led to a very active 2016.

Property Biz Canada – Reuters – Property Biz Canada

NO. 3 STORY 2016: Bluesky Hotels buying InnVest REIT

2016-05-10 – Bluesky Hotels & Resorts Inc., a closely held company backed by capital from Hong Kong, has agreed to buy InnVest Real Estate Investment Trust (INN.UN-T) for $2.1 billion. The deal will give Bluesky one of Canada’s largest hotel portfolios with 109 properties, including a stake in Toronto’s Fairmont Royal York Hotel. InnVest also owns 50 percent of Choice Hotels Canada Inc.

Bloomberg – Calgary Herald – Canadian Business

NO. 4 STORY 2016: Anbang to take control of Bentall Centre

2016-02-17 – Anbang Insurance Group Co., one of China’s most active buyers of overseas real estate, is poised to gain full ownership of Vancouver’s largest office complex, according to sources. Anbang is purchasing a 33 per cent stake in the Bentall Centre from GWL Realty Advisors Inc., said the sources. Anbang earlier bought Ivanhoe Cambridge‘s 66 per cent share of the property.

Bloomberg – Financial Post

NO. 5 STORY 2016: KingSett, AIMCo to own half of Scotia Plaza

2016-06-20 – KingSett Capital and the Alberta Investment Management Corp. are acquiring a 50 per cent interest in Scotia Plaza, including 100 Yonge St. in downtown Toronto, from Dream Office REIT (D.UN-T) in a deal valued at well over half a billion dollars.

Globe and Mail – Financial Post – Marketwired

No. 6 STORY 2016: Lowe’s Canada CEO aiming for top spot

2016-05-24 – Lowe’s Canada (LOW-N) CEO Sylvain Prud’homme is gunning to become the top choice of home improvement shoppers following its takeover of Rona Inc. On the heels of its $3.2-billion acquisition, U.S. parent Lowe’s Cos. Inc. has just over $6 billion of annual sales in this country, about $1 billion less than top player Home Depot Canada (HD-N).

Globe and Mail – Financial Post – Ottawa Business Journal

NO. 7 STORY 2016: Rogers Place opens in downtown Edmonton

2016-09-08 – The sidewalks are a little dusty and the furious hum of construction work is non-stop, but Edmonton’s downtown arena is officially open for business. After years of squabbling and hardball negotiations, the official ribbon-cutting brought visible relief to the face of Oilers Entertainment Group owner Daryl Katz, as he spoke to celebrities and dignitaries at the event.

Edmonton Journal

NO. 8 STORY 2016: B.C. introduces 15% real estate tax targeting foreign homebuyers

2016-07-24 – Foreign nationals who buy real estate in Metro Vancouver would pay an additional property transfer tax of 15 per cent under legislation introduced Monday by the British Columbia government. Finance Minister Mike de Jong unveiled the tax as part of legislation aimed at addressing low vacancy rates and high real estate prices in southern B.C.

BNN

NO. 9 STORY 2016: BREXIT

RENX top story pick: Brexit is a buying opportunity: Russo, Timbercreek, Property Biz Canada, July 14

UK commercial property to weather Brexit, say Aviva, M&G, IPE Real Estate, June 27

Brexit unlikely to cause commercial property crash, IPE Real Estate, June 24

CRE giants plummet in wake of Brexit, MPA Mag, CBRE, June 13

NO. 10 STORY 2016: Calgary

RENX TOP STORY PICK: Calgary office vacancy rate headed for 30%,  CBC, November 8

More downtown office space coming to Calgary, Calgary Herald, Jan. 7

Calgary’s soon to be tallest tower short on tenants, Financial Post, Feb. 12

Calgary renters negotiate deals as vacancy rate rises, CBC, Feb. 17

Dream Office REIT hit by Alberta oil woe,  Globe and Mail, August 11

Office tower construction delayed in Calgary,  Globe and Mail, August 26

Calgary DT office rents down 60 per cent since 2012, Calgary Herald, October 14

Landlords grim as Calgary vacancy rate rises, Calgary Herald, November 28

B.C. speculators pour into Calgary, Business in Vancouver, November 30

RENX top 100 stories picks for 2015

Property Biz Canada – December 24, 2015

LEADERSHIP: 2016 (12)

RENX TOP STORY PICK:  Canadian Tire reappoints Wetmore as CEO in shakeup, Globe and Mail, July 13

Colliers, SVP Scott Chandler in a satisfying role, Property Biz Canada, Jan. 21

Sonshine signs extension as RioCan REIT CEO, Marketwired, Feb. 18

C&W Canada CEO has a growth mandate, Property Biz Canada, Mar. 10

REIT investors face new risk as CEOs age, Financial Post, Mar. 17

Kim Saunders first Canadian BOMA Fellow, Property Biz Canada, May 5

Sobeys CEO Marc Poulin to be replaced, Financial Post, July 8

Walmart Canada’s COO Lee Tappenden to take over as CEO,  Financial Post, June 27

Multi-res prez sees growth ahead for Timbercreek, Property Biz Canada, August 11

JLL appoints Christian Ulbrich President and CEO, Marketwired, August 23

Tribute’s Neil Rodgers to become OHBA president, Property Biz Canada, September 15

First Nations land top development executive,  Business in Vancouver, October 25

CHBA president keeping pressure on governments, Property Biz Canada, December 15

Remco Daal, President, Canadian real estate, QuadReal,  Business in Vancouver, December 5

REAL ESTATE DEALS: 2016

RENX TOP STORY PICK: The story of Vancouver’s wildest property deal, Business in Vancouver, Apr. 21

Kimco sells Canadian portfolio to Anthem, Property Biz Canada, June 10

UBC’s billion-dollar trust fund baby, Business in Vancouver, August 30

Slate has monopoly at Toronto’s Yonge and St. Clair, Property Biz Canada, August 4

Crestpoint on buying spree in 2016, Property Biz Canada, August 18

CPPIB buys stake in OMERS office real estate portfolio, Financial Post, September 1

Office

German billionaire to buy Vancouver office tower, Financial Post, Jan. 20

LaSalle acquires rebranded office complex, Property Biz Canada, Feb. 11

Dream Office REIT looks to sell $1.2-billion of properties, Globe and Mail, Feb. 19

Crown, Crestpoint buy Allstate Corporate Centre, Property Biz Canada, Mar. 24

HOOPP to buy half of Calgary office tower, Globe and Mail, October 6

Retail

Allied acquires Montreal office, retail space, Bloomberg, May 6

Crombie REIT buys Oakville shopping centre, Inside Halton, May 6

Industrial

WPT Industrial finds new life with AIMCO deal, Property Biz Canada, Jan. 28

Artis REIT to sell Alberta retail, industrial assets, Reuters, September 28

Hotel and Resorts

Saudi Prince said seeking sale of Four Seasons Toronto, Bloomberg, June 2

Temple Hotels takeover first step for Morguard, Property Biz Canada, Apr. 8

Morguard acquires Toronto hotel portfolio, Canada Newswire, Feb. 4

Marriott and Starwood stockholders approve  merger, CoStar Group, Apr. 8

Vail Resorts to buy Canada’s Whistler Blackcomb, Globe and Mail, August 4

InnVest REIT’s Ottawa Marriott buy prompts selloff, Property Biz Canada, Feb. 4

Leasing deals

Stantec to anchor Edmonton’s ‘engineering hub’, Edmonton Journal, May 25

Montreal Exchange offices moving to Deloitte Tower, Canada Newswire, September 28

Tax firm relocates HQ to Calgary’s downtown, Calgary Herald, October 18

HQ for PotashCorp/Agrium merger to be in Saskatoon, CBC, September 12

Land deals

Toronto condo site sells at the ‘right price’, Property Biz Canada, November 3

Developers buy TO waterfront lands, Toronto Star, May 6

TransLink sells six-hectare Oakridge Transit Centre, Globe and Mail, December 20

Triovest buys run-down city block in Calgary, Calgary Herald, November 24

Anthem and partner make major Vancouver land purchase, Property Biz Canada, November 24

MARKET TRENDS: 2016

Time ripe for Canadian investment: Sahi, Property Biz Canada, Feb. 11

Development charges high on REALpac’s 2016 agenda, Property Biz Canada, Feb. 12

Halifax’s major construction has almost tripled in value over a decade, CBC, Apr. 18

TO, Vancouver office condos in demand, Property Biz Canada, Apr. 28

A tale of three office markets, Property Biz Canada, May 12

REIT reclassification good news, BMO says, Property Biz Canada, June 2

TD Centre floor rated for ‘well-being’ of people, Property Biz Canada, June 2

Brock Commons shows tall wood construction potential. Property Biz Canada, August 11

Vancouver’s industrial market remains red hot. Property Biz Canada, September 8

Vancouver CRE deals shatter record. Financial Post, September 15

Avison Young’s Mark Rose confident about future. Property Biz Canada, September 22

Pent-up demand filling Vancouver office towers. Property Biz Canada, October 6

REITs are no TSX lightweight, RBC report Property Biz Canada, October 20

Ottawa to spend $81 billion over next decade on capital works Business in Vancouver, November 1

Global investors to consider Canada’s infrastructure projects Financial Post, November 14

U.S online sales shatter records on Cyber Monday CoStar Group, December 1

Foreign investors gobble up Canadian CRE Financial Post, December 5

Quebec First Nation lays claim to downtown Ottawa Ottawa Business Journal, December 9

DEVELOPMENT: 2016

RENX TOP STORY PICK: LeBreton development will have major impact: Experts, Ottawa Business Journal, May 6

Quebec

Bertone launching massive Montreal mixed-use project, Property Biz Canada, May 25

‘Biggest mixed property project’ in Quebec plows ahead. CBC, September 12

Devimco unveils mixed-use project on former hospital site Montreal Gazette, December 15

Quad Windsor major boost for Montreal, Daily Commercial News, Dec. 29, 2015

Réseau Sélection top private retirement community developer. Canada Newswire, September 19

Ontario

RioCan proposes four residential buildings in TO, Urban Toronto, Apr. 4

Fengate creates Oakville office-industrial node, Property Biz Canada, Apr. 21

Devcore attacks NCC choice of RendezVous LeBreton, Ottawa Citizen, May 6

Developers buy TO waterfront lands, Toronto Star, May 6

RioCan teams up with developers for TO real estate project, Globe and Mail, June 13

Diamond, Tricon and RioCan to redevelop Yonge St. corner, Property Biz Canada, June 17

Mississauga to host 10-tower condo project Toronto Star, September 27

Manulife Centre’s ambitious redevelopment years in the making. Property Biz Canada, September 22

People power behind Lakeview site redevelopment Toronto Star, September 25

First phase of Carré Saint-Laurent going ahead, Property Biz Canada , November 24

Alberta

Timing ripe for Eau Claire Market redevelopment, Globe and Mail, Apr. 8

RioCan being ‘bold’ with Calgary project: CEO, Bloomberg, Apr. 12

Brookfield Place Western Canada’s tallest building, Calgary Herald, May 6

First Nation announces massive Calgary development, Calgary Herald, July 13

Edmonton landlords repurpose downtown office buildings,  Edmonton Journal, September 28

New Enbridge Centre rises from ashes of historic Kelly Ramsey Building,  Edmonton Journal, October 14

RioCan-Boardwalk JV just the start for retail REIT,  Property Biz Canada, November 24

British Columbia

Burnaby outpaces Vancouver in tower development, Vancouver Sun, Mar. 21

Dogwood development to transform Cambie Corridor, Business in Vancouver, Mar. 22

23 condo towers planned for Vancouver redevelopment, VanCity Buzz, Mar. 3

Whistler Blackcomb unveils ambitious plan, Vancouver Sun, Apr. 7

Burnaby seeks to make a downtown out of Metrotown, BC Business, Apr. 28

‘Demovictions’ on the rise as Burnaby towers soar to the skies, Globe and Mail, June 13

COMPANY STRATEGY AND JV’S: 2016

RENX TOP STORY PICK: Avison Young introduces a “Global Citizenship” strategy, Property Biz Canada, June 2

Bentall Centre management contract goes to Canderel Group,  Marketwired, June 7

BCIMC takes real estate into its own hands, Globe and Mail, June 2

Conundrum, Manulife to grow multi-res platform, Property Biz Canada, June 27

Timbercreek ranked among Canada’s fastest-growing companies Marketwired, September 22

RioCan REIT’s big city bet still paying off. Property Biz Canada, September 8

RETAIL: 2016

RENX TOP STORY PICK:  Corner store king Alain Bouchard pursues global conquest Financial Post, December 9

Lowe’s Cos to buy Canada’s Rona for $3.2 billion in cash, Financial Post, Feb. 3

McKesson to acquire Rexall drugstore chain in $3-billion deal, Globe and Mail, Mar. 2

Imperial Oil selling all Esso stations, Globe and Mail, Mar. 9

Cara gobbles up St-Hubert chicken chain, Globe and Mail, Mar 31

Couche-Tard to buy CST Brands. Globe and Mail, August 22

Giant Tiger ready to expand retail footprint. Financial Post, August 4

Outdoor giant Bass Pro to acquire rival Cabela’s for $4.5B Winnipeg Free Press, October 3

Costco to expand aggressively over the next year Financial Post, September 30

Ontario Teachers’ buys wineries, Wine Rack stores. Toronto Star, October 17

How Sobeys vaporized half of Safeway’s value Globe and Mail, October 27

Canadian Tire shifts spending focus to e-commerce Globe and Mail, November 10

RETAIL REDEVELOPMENT: 2016

RENX TOP STORY PICK: Tsawwassen Mills mall hoping to attract far-flung customers, CBC, October 4

Oakridge Centre’s remake scaled back, Globe and Mail, Jan. 12

RioCan unveils Silver City redevelopment plan, Ottawa Business Journal, Jan. 20

An interior makeover for Galeries de la Capitale, Property Biz Canada, Jan. 12

Bold plans introduced for True North Square, Winnipeg Free Press, Feb. 24

Yorkville’s Hazelton Lanes gets a facelift, Toronto Star, Apr. 18

CF Rideau Centre redevelopment now complete, Property Biz Canada, August 4

CF Shops at Don Mills test lab for Buttonville, Property Biz Canada, May 12

Cadillac Fairview unveils investment in CF Masonville Place, Canada Newswire, November 3

Deerfoot City is taking Shape in Calgary,  Property Biz Canada, November 17

Honest Ed’s makes list of 50 global buildings, Toronto Star, Jan. 4

MUNICIPAL: 2016

RENX TOP STORY PICK:   Biggest urban renewal for Ottawa in 50 years, Globe and Mail, Jan. 26

Old Port to get face lift for Montreal’s 375th birthday, CBC, Jan. 29

Port Metro Vancouver CEO faces major challenges, BC Business, Feb. 25

East Gardiner Expressway plan moves ahead, Toronto Star, Mar. 1

Infrastructure gets nod in Federal Budget, Toronto Star, Mar. 22

Caisse pitches new Montreal rail network, Globe and Mail, Apr. 21

Markham Ontario: Engine of Growth, Property Biz Canada, Apr. 18

Halifax port boom tops all in North America,  Halifax Herald, August 15

Toronto’s Rail Deck Park could cost $1B or more,  CBC, September 15

Mississauga’s municipal makeover in next 15 years,  Toronto Star, October 18

Mayor Tory asks private sector to help at Forum, Property Biz Canada, November 30

INTERNATIONAL: 2016

RENX TOP STORY PICK: Canadian office space owners in top five globally, Property Biz Canada, May 12

Canadian love affair with Manhattan CRE unabated, Reuters, Feb. 5

Supertall wood tower for London, U.K., Daily Commercial News, Apr. 21

Firm Capital eyes Delavaco as springboard to U.S., Property Biz Canada, May 6

Artis REIT acquires U.S. office portfolio, Property Biz Canada, June 8

Panama Canal opens in midst of shipping crisis, Globe and Mail, June 24

NorthWest Healthcare Properties acquires Australian Healthcare REIT, Globe and Mail, June 27

Caisse and DP World partner up for shipping port investments, Glboe and Mail, December 2

Hungerford Properties raises CAD170m for Western Canada fund,  IPE Real Estae, November 14

RESIDENTIAL: 2016

RENX TOP STORY PICK: B.C. real estate reform: The end of self-regulation, Globe and Mail, July 26

Aura: Toronto’s most visible and invisible building, Toronto Star, Jan. 16

Vancouver apartment site listing draws global interest, Property Biz Canada, Jan. 6

Waterloo facing oversupply of student housing, Waterloo Record, Feb. 24

40-storey residential tower planned for Portage and Main, Winnipeg Free Press, Mar. 24

Reseau Selection’s retirement empire growing, Property Biz Canada, Mar. 31

Regent Park progress exceeding Daniels’ original vision, Property Biz Canada, Apr. 28

FINTRAC steps up brokerage audits, REM Online, Apr. 11

CMHC to push for national housing strategy, bloomberg, Apr. 4

Home Builder Urbancorp CEO Files for Bankruptcy Protection, Bloomberg, May 5

Toronto creating licensing system for landlords, CBC, May 12

CMHC warns housing prices overheated in 9 Canadian markets, Property Biz Canada, July 28

OSFI orders banks to stress test mortgage accounts, CBC, July 26

B.C.’s move to tax foreign home buyers applauded, Globe and Mail, July 26

Vancouver to get powers to tax empty homes, CBC.ca, July 11

Quebec City condo allowing Airbnb-style rental, Canada Newswire, June 10

First certified Active House in the World in Toronto, Canada Newswire, June 13

Apartment buildings caught under new B.C. tax. Financial Post, August 4

Ontario to introduce regulations for home inspections. Globe and Mail, August 23

CHC Student Housing to merge with Dundee Acquisition. Globe and Mail, August 26

Airbnb must play by rules when it comes to rentals. Property Biz Canada, September 8

B.C. to fund construction of rental units. CBC, September 19

Troubled developer Urbancorp sells projects to homebuilders. Financial Post, September 19

Fintrac found ‘significant’ deficiencies in real estate firms: data. globe and Mail, September 19

Condos crack down on Airbnb Canadian real estate magazine, October 31

Housing in need of a $13-billion federal fix: cities Winnipeg Free Press, October 21

Intended consequences of new housing policies: CEO, CMHC globe and Mail, October 17

CMHC to issue first ‘red’ warning for housing market globe and Mail, October 17

Anbang buys stake in B.C. retirement homes Globe and Mail, November 28

Vancouver to slap tax on empty homes Financial Post, November 10

B.C. government offers loans to first-time home buyers, Financial Post, December 20