Real Estate Conference Coming At Crucial Time For Arlington Residents

ARLINGTON, VA — Arlington County is one of the main sponsors of a business conference and networking event next week that will focus on commercial office vacancy rates and what role developers and other businesses will play as the county undergoes zoning and site plan changes.

The 2023 edition of Bisnow’s “Future of Arlington” conference will be held at 3601 Wilson, an office building in the Virginia Square neighborhood that has been fully renovated. The Class-A building features a tenant lounge and a “secret speakeasy,” along with a conference room that can accommodate as many as 180 people.

Arlington County’s office vacancy rate currently stands at 23.7 percent, one of the highest office vacancy rates in the D.C. metropolitan area. In neighboring Fairfax County, the current office vacancy rate sits at 16.7 percent.

"From mixed-use developments to new zoning bills, learn how the county is investing into its neighborhoods and residents," Bisnow says on its conference agenda.

Arlington County Chair Christian Dorsey and Ryan Touhill, director of Arlington Economic Development, or AED, are among the invited speakers at the Thursday, Aug. 24 conference. Arlington County Manager Mark Schwartz appointed Touhill as the new director of AED last November. Dorsey decided not to seek re-election to the county board and will be leaving office at the end of the year.

Among the topics of discussion at the Bisnow conference will be the passage of the Missing Middle Housing reform, which did away with single-family zoning in the county.

"What does the single-family-only zoning ban, which goes into effect July 1, mean for the county in terms of the housing crisis as well as the expansion of neighborhoods?" the conference agenda says.

The planned redevelopment of Langston Boulevard, with new higher-rise buildings similar to new development along Columbia Pike, will also likely be a topic of discussion for the commercial real estate companies, lenders and consultants in attendance at the conference.

The Arlington County Board could adopt the Plan Langston Boulevard as early as the end of 2023 at the end of the terms of Dorsey and Tannia Talento, a former school board member who was appointed by the county board to complete the term of former County Board member Katie Cristol, who resigned in early July.

AED has had a long-standing relationship with Bisnow and has sponsored many of its real estate-related events, including its “Future of Arlington” series.

These sponsorships are part of Arlington County’s overall marketing strategy to attract and retain business in Arlington, AED spokeswoman Kelly Rindfusz said.

“The sponsorships give AED an opportunity, from a county perspective, to share information on Arlington’s current status and future economic development outlook,” Rindfusz said. “It allows staff to engage with the business and real estate communities.”

Given the impact of the policies under discussion at the conference, civic association leaders and community members are also hoping to take part in the Aug. 24 conference, without having to pay the $120 fee for the half-day conference.

At the time this article was published, Bisnow had not responded to an email asking whether civic association or other civic group leaders will be given speaker slots or whether community leaders will have their $120 conference fees waived.

Bisnow is also selling "The Future of Arlington" conference attendee list for $49 as another form of business intelligence for potential players in the county's commercial real estate market. "Want to find your next deal at this event? Get prepped and put your game face on," Bisnow says. "Buy our attendee list and get the names, job titles, and companies of all registered attendees. Purchased lists are sent one day prior to event date."

Along with Arlington County, major commercial real estate companies Transwestern Real Estate Service, Lincoln Property Group and LaSalle Investment Management signed up to serve as sponsors of this year’s conference. Law firms with major real estate practices, including as McGuireWoods, Pillsbury and Walsh Colucci, are also serving as sponsors of the 2023 conference.

Attendees will get to meet the Northern Virginia region's "top owners, developers, investors, brokers, construction, designers, architects, financial institutions and more!" Bisnow says.

Founded in 2005 by Mark Bisnow, Bisnow Media produces commercial real estate news and organizes real estate conferences and events. Bisnow was sold to private equity firm Wicks Group in 2016.