Commercial real estate activity in Chittenden County has begun to pick up. The national recession seems to have found its bottom and is starting that long slow march back to recovery. The journey won't be a quick one. Unemployment usually continues to rise even after the economy has bottomed out, but there are some good deals being done in the marketplace.

CVS Pharmacy recently purchased a property at the corner of Rte. 15 and Essex Way in Essex. Construction is underway and the new drive-thru pharmacy should open in early 2010. The USCIS will be leasing a 75,000 s/f office building at Taft Corners. The building, well on its way to completion, is located next to the New England Federal Credit Union on Harvest Lane in Williston.

Construction is nearing completion on a new Moe's Southwest Grill, which will be located on a stand-alone pad in front of PetsMart at Taft Corners in Williston. This will be the second Chittenden County location for the national chain.
In South Burlington, J.P. Morgan Chase Bank has leased 11,000 s/f of Class A office space at 55 Community Dr. The building, located in Technology Park, will house a data entry center for the bank.

These are just a few examples of the deals that are being done in Chittenden County. The wheels of commerce are turning slowly, but they are not moving in reverse.

RETAIL
Consumer spending is down and retailers are feeling the effects. Linens & Things, the 35,000 s/f retailer formerly located at Maple Tree Place in Williston, closed its doors right after the holidays. Linens & Things was among the first retailers to occupy space at the 500,000 s/f shopping center, and it was the first of the large retailers at Taft Corners to pull up stakes. Shortly after the closing of Linens & Things, Circuit City closed the doors on its 26,000 s/f store at the Taft Corners Park. However, Lowe's has opened a second 153,000 s/f store at the former Essex Town Plaza on Susie Wilson Rd. This will increase the size of the current center by 53,000 s/f. Goodwill is in the process of opening its second store in the market as well. The new store, to be located on Shelburne Rd. in South Burlington, is currently under construction and should be open before the new year.

Downtown Burlington's outdoor-mall concept continues to draw both local and tourist crowds to Chittenden County's premier retail center. The Church St. Marketplace vacancy rates have increased in recent months but spaces are slowly being filled. An optimal mix of both local and national retailers provides Marketplace shoppers a unique shopping experience. The Burlington Town Center, featuring the likes of Macy's, Pottery Barn, and William Sonoma, anchors the Marketplace with over 140,000 s/f of leased space.

OFFICE
Approximately 300,000 s/f of new office space was added to the market place over the last two years. Rents in the CBD are beginning to weaken, with rents for Class A space between $14-$17 per s/f, and Class B space renting between $9-$13 per square foot. Spaces less than 5,000 s/f are producing the most activity in this sector. Vacancy rates in the CBD have risen above 4%. On the other hand, suburban office vacancy rates are nearly 15%. Several buildings in the suburban market have been constructed in the last year and some are still under construction. A few of these buildings have yet to fill more than 60% of the space. Rents in the more suburban areas are between $13-$16 per s/f for Class A space and $8-$12 per s/f for Class B space.

INDUSTRIAL
The industrial market has been stable but is showing some signs of weakening. Activity in the industrial market is still focused on smaller spaces ranging from 2,500-7,500 s/f. Many of the larger spaces on the market are being re-developed to accommodate the demand for smaller space. Demand for new industrial space in 2008 was well below historical averages. Demand in 2009 is expected to be less than originally anticipated. Vermont's largest employer, IBM, has seen its work force decline over the last seven years from 8,500 in 2001 to 4,800 in 2009.
Despite the recession, there remains opportunity for those who seek it. Rising vacancy rates and lower rents should allow good businesses to retrench and weather the storm. Investors should keep an eye out for properties they can purchase below the high asking prices we have seen over the last several years.

Vermonters are looking forward to rebuilding our local economy. New ideas and new businesses are often born out of economic turmoil and will lead the way to recovery. This state remains a wonderful place to live and do business.

Nick Grimley is an associate with NAI/J.L. Davis Realty, Williston, VT.