References
NAR Library & Archives has already done the research for you. References (formerly Field Guides) offer links to articles, eBooks, websites, statistics, and more to provide a comprehensive overview of perspectives. EBSCO articles (E) are available only to NAR members and require a password.
Site Selection Basics
Seven Signs of a New Site Selection Reality (Site Selection, Jan. 2022) E
- Distribution and logistics projects will again dominate the headlines in 2022.
- Sunbelt states maintained their status as the most favored business climates in America.
- Most corporate clients are expected to expand their facilities sometime this year.
- Reshoring projects are here to stay for the foreseeable future.
- Suburban and rural communities will benet as more employers look outside of large central cities to
- establish new workplace hubs.
- Remote working has become a permanent part of the new workplace landscape.
- Governmental mismanagement continues to be the main barrier to getting deals done.
5 Ways COVID-19 Changed Site Selection (Site Selection, Jan. 2021) E
- Talent comes before location
- Moving away from large and costly city centers
- The most attractive locations got even more attractive
- Reshoring became a top priority
- Location deal-killers have shifted
12 Issues to Consider When Searching a Business Location (the balance small business, Jan. 2, 2020)
Consider these things when deciding a business location: yourself, your customers, your employees, strategic partners, potential investors or buyers, cost, convenience, safety, prestige, traffic, facility requirements, and zoning.
Choosing a Successful Location for Your Business (NOLO, 2020)
- Is location important for the success of your business?
- What type of location is best for your business?
- How much rent can you afford?
- Is your proposed location appropriate for what you plan to do there?
Pick Your Business Location (U.S. Small Business Administration)
Where you locate your business depends in part on the location of your target market, business partners, and your personal preferences. In addition, you should consider the costs, benefits, and restrictions of different government agencies.
Site Selection for Office & Retail Properties
7 Mistakes to Avoid When Choosing a New Retail Location (Targomo, Feb. 4, 2022)
- Not considering retail cannibalization
- Not knowing your competitors
- Not taking complementary shops into account
- Overlooking how people travel to your store
- Misjudging foot traffic
- Overlooking demographics
- Not locating your target group
Where in America Are the Tech Firms Going and Why: An Exploratory Analysis of Site Selection Trends in the Information Technology Sector Based on Incentive Packages from 1980 to 2018 (Journal of Strategic Innovation & Sustainability, 2020) E
“The findings indicate that fairly remote locations seem to consistently have lower number of jobs created at much higher dollar amounts spent per new job, as compared to metro areas. A clear trend of moving away from Silicon Valley emerges, where most new jobs are created in the Northeast and Canada, as a function of the most generous subsidy packages.”
Work from Anywhere? COVID-19 is Disrupting Traditional Office Use and Dispersing Workers around the Country (Site Selection, Jul. 2020) E
None of this causes landlords to rejoice, but Ross Forman, managing director of business advisory firm BDO, tells Site Selection that “the number one rule for tenants is to challenge your assumptions from pre-COVID days and look for opportunities to repurpose space. The landlord and tenant must partner because a mixed-use environment is becoming the norm. There’s an opportunity for every bricks-and-mortar tenant to dramatically lower costs.
A New Model for Spatial Analysis Site Selection and Decision Making for Small Retail Facilities: A Case Study for Starbucks- Seattle (Journal of Strategic Innovation & Sustainability, Sep. 1, 2018) E
This study demonstrated that the inclusion of additional social media activity variables (e.g.. Twitter or Yelp) into a model significantly improved the analytic power regarding store sales, and hence, helped identify a successful store location. The regression analysis demonstrated that the increased R value, resulting from the inclusion of the social media activity variables, improved upon the baseline model, and therefore helped to support strategic planners and decision makers regarding siting a new facility.
Site Selection for Restaurants & Hospitality Properties
7 Questions to Ask Before Selecting a Restaurant Location (OpenTable, May 29, 2022)
- Type of restaurant
- Patron sources
- Demand generators
- Demographics
- Competition
- Site characteristics
- Focus
Why Second-Generation Real Estate is Becoming First Pick (Modern Restaurant Management, Aug. 19, 2019)
“There are many advantages to moving into an existing structure like reducing buildout cost, minimizing construction time, and entering saturated markets with ease.”
Site Selection Secrets for Restaurant Tenants (Modern Restaurant Management, Jan. 14, 2019)
Consider: age, income, location, residency, adjacent property, neighboring tenants, visibility, anchor tenants, and competition.
Tips on Where to Locate Your Restaurant (The Balance Small Business, Mar. 24, 2018)
Consider: parking, visibility, size, prior tenants, safety, neighbors, location convenience, lease concessions and length, and site fit for concept.
Site Selection for Warehouse Facilities & Labs
Factors to Consider When Selecting a Warehouse Location (Johnson | Stephens Consulting, Apr. 20, 2022)
- Discover Where Your Customer Base Is
- Search for Available Buildings and Compare Real Estate Rates
- Check the Nearby Availability of Labor
- Examine the Local Infrastructure
- Outline the Local Laws and Regulations
- Determine Taxation Rates and Financial Incentives
- Research Environmental Risks in Your Area
- Plan for Disposal and Waste Management
- Project Scalability and Future Expansion
Warehouse/DC Site Selection: Demand for Space Has Never Been Stronger (Modern Materials Handling, Aug. 2019) E
“The article examines how the need to meet same-day and next-day expectations has had a major impact on how warehouse and distribution center space is sought, secured and managed. It mentions that majority of users need buildings that can accommodate materials handling systems and equipment, ceiling heights, internet bandwidth, and, externally and ample apron parking.”
Where in America Are the Tech Firms Going and Why: An Exploratory Analysis of Site Selection Trends in the Information Technology Sector Based on Incentive Packages from 1980 to 2018 (Journal of Strategic Innovation & Sustainability, 2020) E
The results indicate the emergence and growth of IT clusters with the following commonalities in terms of subsidies and the associated new jobs created at the municipal level:
- Most jobs created are in the Northeast US and Canada and they are congruent with the most generous packages
- Tax credit/rebate is the most common subsidy awarded
- The sub-industrial growth is strongest in software and data analytics
- A clear trend of moving away from Silicon Valley emerges in the last decade, with new deals clustering in Boston, Washington, D.C., Denver and the greater Chicago area
- Subsidies by the state are most prevalent with county-level subsidies coming second, mostl in denser metro areas
Plot Plan Design: Process Requirements (Chemical Engineering, Jan 2015) E
This article discusses key elements of plant layout and plot plan design in plant location and plant layout. Topics covered include the identification of the optimal location for the chemical process industries plant by engineers, requirements and limitations in the development and design of a plot plan.
eBooks & Other Resources
eBooks.realtor.org
The following eBooks and digital audiobooks are available to NAR members:
Multifamily Housing Development: Ten Case Studies of Innovative Projects (eBook)
The Complete Guide to Locating and Profiting from Emerging Real Estate Markets (eBook)
The Dynamics of Property Location (eBook)
Books, Videos, Research Reports & More
As a member benefit, the following resources and more are available for loan through the NAR Library. Items will be mailed directly to you or made available for pickup at the REALTOR® Building in Chicago.
Resort Development (Washington, D.C.: Urban Land Institute, 2008) NAC 1800 Ur1rd1
Developing Active Adult Retirement Communities (Washington, D.C.: Urban Land Institute, 2001) NAC 1800 Ur1sd
Developing Retail Entertainment Destinations (Washington, D.C.: Urban Land Institute, 2001) NAC 1800 Ur1dr
Developing Sports, Convention, and Performing Arts Centers (Washington, D.C.: Urban Land Institute, 2001) NAC 6880 Ur1d
Multifamily Housing Development Handbook (Washington, D.C.: Urban Land Institute, 2000) HD 1377 Ur1mh
Websites
ULI provides leadership in the responsible use of land and in creating and sustaining thriving communities worldwide. ULI is an independent global nonprofit supported by members representing the entire spectrum of real estate development and land use disciplines.
The Magazine of Corporate Expansion & Area Economic Development
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