Sandpiper ups stake in Dream Alternatives, pushes for change

RENX  Commercial  •  Investment  •  National

Sandpiper Group has increased its investment in Dream Hard Assets Alternatives Trust to 10 per cent, and signalled it’s about to get more proactive in how the trust is managed. Sandpiper is a Vancouver-based investor run by Samir Manji.

Hudson Yards project caps global push for Oxford

Residential, Commercial  •  Bloomberg

A roll of the dice during the financial crisis will begin to bear fruit next week at the biggest private real estate project in U.S., NYC’s Hudson Yards. Driving the $25B development are Oxford Properties Group and Related Cos.

Grants, new priorities drive new university development

RENX  Commercial  •  Technology, Infrastructure  •  Ontario

“Everything evolves.” It’s a phrase used several times by Claudio Brun del Re, University of Ottawa’s chief architect in an interview with RENX. In this context, Brun del Re is talking about what’s happening on Canadian university campuses.

Conexus paid $3.25M to lease land for new head office

Commercial  •  CBC  •  CBC

The University of Regina says Conexus Credit Union is paying $3.25 million to lease the Wascana Park land where the financial institution is constructing its head office. According to a U of R official statement, the lease is for 90 years.

Toronto – a development retrospective

Commercial  •  Avison Young article

As I celebrate 10 years at Avison Young, I can’t help but reflect on the changes in the Toronto office leasing market … (and) the extent of the peaks and valleys the market has endured.

Anthem proposes residential tower for Coal Harbour

Residential  •  Vancouver Courier

A 33-storey residential tower whose design is inspired by mountains is proposed for Vancouver.  Developer Anthem Properties rezoning application for the high-rise, which would feature 127 condo units, goes before an open house April 9.

Toronto’s tech hub is literally booming

Commercial  •  IPE Real Assets  •  RENX

The city has established itself as one of the top-five tech talent markets in North America, based on CBRE’s annual Tech Talent survey. It is the first time a Canadian market has made it into the top five.

Ubisoft growing in Winnipeg’s Exchange District

Commercial  •  Winnipeg Free Press

Less than two months after the official opening of Ubisoft’s Winnipeg studio, the French video game company is already dramatically expanding its footprint here.

$40m in investments for Vancouver supercluster projects

Commercial  •  Business in Vancouver

The first seven Vancouver-based supercluster projects are officially armed with $40M to pursue advances in healthcare, natural resources and manufacturing. The Digital Technology Supercluster unveiled its initial collaborations to receive funding from the program backed by industry and government.

Tesla’s Canadian sales centres set to close

Commercial  •  Vancouver Province

Tesla’s three Metro Vancouver sales outlets are at risk of closing after the electric-car maker revealed it was shifting to online sales only. There are also four Tesla stores in Toronto, one in Calgary and another in Montreal.

Sunrise Records head saves HMV stores from bankruptcy

Commercial  •  CBC  •  CBC

VIDEO: Sunrise Records head Doug Putman has bought 100 HMV stores from bankruptcy and plans to keep them open.

REOC financial results:

Commercial  • 

Bridgemarq Real Estate Services, (BRE-T), Canada Newswire

Timbercreek Financial, (TF-T), Globe Newswire

Amazon’s ashes

Commercial  •  The Real Deal

It’s no secret the real estate industry was salivating over Amazon’s arrival in Long Island City, giddy about the ripple effect across New York. But Amazon’s decision to ditch the plan had a more apocalyptic effect on some than others.

Colony Capital acquires $1.16B industrial portfolio

Commercial  •  Business Wire

Affiliates of Colony Capital, Inc. (CLNY-N) announced the acquisition of a national portfolio of 54 light and bulk industrial buildings for $1.16 billion. The value-add portfolio is located across 10 U.S. markets and totals approximately 11.9 million square feet.

Aon no longer pursuing Willis Towers acquisition

Commercial  •  Toronto Star

Aon Plc said it’s no longer pursuing a combination with rival insurance brokerage Willis Towers Watson Plc, a day after confirming that it was considering a tie-up.

Ivanhoé Cambridge sees change in global markets

Commercial  •  IPE Real Assets

The growth markets in Asia-Pacific, Latin America and South America hold promise of future growth and diversification for Montreal-based Ivanhoé Cambridge, as it seeks to adjust to what it has identified as the shifting sands of global real estate.

Canada among highest homeownership rates in world: RBC

Residential  •  Business In Vancouver

Major Canadian cities may be struggling with affordability issues, but the rate of homeownership is among the highest in the world, according to a recent report by RBC.

Vancouver considers rental-only zoning around SkyTrain line

Residential, Commercial  •  CBC

Vancouver city councillors are considering a motion Tuesday morning that could bring a temporary halt to all re-zoning applications along the Broadway corridor, the proposed route for a SkyTrain line to UBC.

B.C. balks at condo Airbnb tax proposed by Victoria

Residential  •  Victoria Times Colonist

The province’s new speculation and vacancy tax declaration could provide a pathway to taxing condos being used as Airbnbs as commercial operations, says Victoria Coun. Geoff Young.

Co-living could be a new kind of rooming house

Residential  •  REMI Network

Prominent real estate analysts are promoting co-living as a potential next big thing in Canada’s ever-tightening rental housing market. CBRE identifies dormitory-style dwellings offering private bedrooms with shared kitchen and living space as an emerging commercial real estate trend.