Industry Leaders Will Assess Market's Potential for More Heat
By Barbra Murray
Last updated: February 22, 2006 08:36am

WASHINGTON, DC-The opportunities for big deals will be among the topics of discussion at the RealShare Washington, DC conference on March 1. Exceeding last year's number of registrants, this year's event at the JW Marriott on Pennsylvania Avenue will bring together more than 500 industry heavy hitters from the brokerage, investment and development industries for exchanging information and networking.

"It's amazing how well received the RealShare conference has become here," Jonathan A. Schein president and CEO of Real Estate Media, tells GlobeSt.com. New York City-based Real Estate Media, publisher of Real Estate Forum and GlobeSt.com, is the producer of the national RealShare Conference Series. "It's part of the Washington, DC real estate scene.”

Schein will initiate the half-day gathering with opening remarks, while Real Estate Media editor-in-chief Michael G. Desiato will engage Charles E. Smith Commercial Realty president Mitchell Schear on his company's endeavors in such areas as mixed-use development in Crystal City and preparation for potential vacancies due to BRAC, during the “Inside the Real Estate Mind” presentation.

The conference will feature two new panels this year. Following the morning's Town Hall meeting, which will focus on the future of leasing, investment and development, “Pardon the Interruption” will make its debut. The one-on-one meeting of two noted real estate leaders--Monument Realty principal Jeff Neal and Boston Properties executive vice president Ray Ritchey--will take on the air of a friendly speed-sparring, of sorts, as they spend 15 minutes going back and forth with their opinions on any number of issues relating to commercial real estate in DC.

"In our quest to provide new, fresh content and information we are excited to debut what should be both an informative and extremely entertaining RealShare Washington, DC-style discussion," says Richard Kelley, RealShare Conference Series director. Another new addition to the program will be Meet the Market's Leading Dealmakers Who You May Not Have Met…But Should. This panel will bring to the fore players who operate somewhat under the radar, but could prove valuable partners.

The day will also include the Keynote Market and Economic Overview with Peter Linneman, Linneman Associates principal and Albert Sussman Professor of Real Estate, Finance, and Public Policy, Wharton School of Business. From the outside looking in as an economist and academic, Linneman will share his always popular perspective on the market regarding far-reaching economic and industry trends that will influence the DC market in 2006. Attendees will also have the opportunity to partake in a variety of concurrent sessions addressing a host of issues such as the potential for the cooling of the condo market down the road, closing deals in a low cap rate environment, making the tight leasing market event tighter, and the future of the Anacostia Waterfront's revitalization.