3 Things You Should Know About When Looking Into A Mixed Use Commercial Building

I just got back from 5 wonderful days in sunny Florida. I haven’t been there for 6 or so years and wow the change that has taken place on the west coast was just amazing to me. I was about 50 to 75 miles south of Tampa and as I drove through these smaller but progressive towns, I was pleasantly impressed. I just loved how mixed use commercial building complimented these towns.

First, let me give you a quick history lesson. Mixed use commercial building was the way cities were first designed. If you think about it, walking was the primary way of getting around. So, where you worked was also where you lived. Commercial on the ground floor with living quarters upstairs. Then the industrial age started to evolve bringing in new workers to the cities to work in the factories so accommodations were needed for housing. Along with industrialization, pollution became an issue so the separation of land to provide for the housing became the plan. Isn’t it interesting that we are coming back to the mixed use commercial building concept? I hope you enjoyed a bit of history because now you’ll be able to understand why I am so excited. You see mixed use commercial building is back but with a twist.

Here are 3 things that I noticed over and over as I enjoyed my visits.

1. Pet Friendly

The casual seating of family owned restaurants and cafes lined the sidewalks with bright umbrellas. When I received my glass of water, Lucy received her bowl of water, as well. Some of these fine establishments had a menu for me and that’s right, one for Lucy. I must say, Lucy acclimated very quickly to this lifestyle. Honestly, who wouldn’t? The overall ambiance was calm, friendly, and very inviting.

2. Lap Top Friendly

So many lap tops. Free internet access, if you needed it. It used to be that people on computers meant they were working and I’m sure many were. In this virtual age, shorts, sunglasses and flip flops are not just for vacationers anymore. Because so many people work from their homes, mixed use commercial building is becoming more and more of the perfect fit.

3. Walker Friendly

At night these towns had good lighting and felt safe. Of course, you be the judge on what you determine as “safe” but I felt I could walk for blocks with no worries about ending up on a dead end street. In fact, having a concern about walking after dark was the furthest thing from my mind. It was this special attention to the quality and placement of sidewalk lights and street lights that made for a very pleasant atmosphere.

If you want to learn more about mixed use commercial buildings or how to find them, click here

Maybe it was just the charm of the south but as a commercial real estate investor, I see mixed used commercial building is a fabulous way to reenergize an aging town. If you’ll take the time to talk with city planners, this is exactly what is bringing these cities to life again. Millions and millions of dollars are being spent to bring in the “big guns” and rework the infrastructure to accommodate mixed use commercial building and their efforts are paying off. Baby boomers are just one unique group that is being wooed enticing them to move out of the suburbs and back into the city. Frankly, I’m keeping my eyes open for mixed use commercial building real estate opportunities. Pick up an old building, give it a face lift (green friendly wouldn’t hurt) and you have an income producing piece of commercial real estate. With the real estate market ripe for investors, more and more people working out of their homes and for the next 19 years, someone will turn 60 every 7 seconds.

Uh…., you get the picture. This is why I love commercial real estate and I’m beginning to love this mixed use commercial building idea more and more. This live, work, play concept is the wave of the future.

If you want to learn more about mixed use commercial buildings or how to find them, click here