Brian Gordon Retail Quotations

It's a mature market area that hasn't seen a lot of new investment. The low vacancy rates are being driven by a lack of new inventory and relatively strong densities. As a result, new retail centers are performing well in the area.

Stable demand and rising land values have placed upward pressure on pricing resulting in a 14.4 percent increase in average asking rates in only six months. With robust sales activity and mom-and-pop operators seeking expansion opportunities, we believe there is room for additional increases in newly constructed retail centers.

We simply cannot expect land prices to escalate at 80 percent per year while rents for office, retail and apartments are increasing in the 8 to 16 percent per year range.

Visitor volumes continue to press forward, while consumer spending is holding its ground. We estimate spending on gaming, lodging, dining and retail items posted healthy gains ranging from high single-digits to low double-digits during the first quarter of 2006.