Here's a Look Back at the Most Read News Stories from 2012 Reported by CoStar News
Throughout 2012, CoStar News covered the biggest stories in
commercial real estate, featuring insightful and timely reporting on the trends and transactions that shaped our industry, with a particular focus on the changes sweeping through the brokerage business. On the last day of the year, we checked our records and identified what you, our readers, considered to be the most interesting and newsworthy stories over the past 12 months.
By far the single biggest commercial real estate story of the year was the
bankruptcy and ultimate dissolution of Grubb & Ellis. The 54-year-old industry icon had been among the first to pursue national expansion in the 1960s and 1970s, bringing a more sophisticated level of service catering to the growing real estate needs of businesses nationwide before succumbing to high debt assumed in an ill-fated merger. Senior news editor Randyl Drummer followed the story through its twists and turns involving several potential suitors before BGC Partners ended up buying most of the firm's remaining assets out of bankruptcy.
Mark Heschmeyer reported on the growing interest in all things social media related with a story in February on how CRE practitioners continue to
explore ways to incorporate social media in their day to day business, which continues to have widespread implications for the industry.
Two other headlines that generated a high level of interest:
"No More Fear and Loathing of CRE Lending for Banks" and
"The Top 10 Threats to CRE This Summer," both by senior news editor Heschmeyer examined the hopeful promise and potential peril that marked much of the commercial real estate business this year.
Our series on the
De-Malling of America also attracted a great deal of reader interest. The series, by senior news editor Drummer, explored what may be next for the hundreds of outmoded malls throughout the country and resonated for a lot of readers.
An April interview with
interview with Cushman & Wakefield CEO Glenn Rufrano was also a popular story and provided an in-depth look at the business strategy pursued by another big name in the business.
Another headline-grabbing topic was
Blackstone's series of significant investments in retail property last year, leaving some to wonder if perhaps the private equity kingpin is seeking to accomplish a similar investment homerun with retail centers as it did with office property just before the downturn in 2007.
Finally, in a somewhat 'deja vu all over again' moment, Mark Heschmeyer's story from last January,
2012: Better? More of the Same? or Total Economic Chaos? reminds us that, despite the passing year, the same headline could be used again as we head into a new year.
Thank you for reading CoStar News. We very much appreciate your patronage and hope to bring you more news and expanded news options as we continue to cover commercial real estate throughout 2013.
Here is a full list of the most-read CoStar News stories for the year: