CBRE closed a 122,963-square-foot lease at Portside Logistics Center in Baytown, Texas, to Borusan Pipe, a steel pipe manufacturer.

CBRE’s Grant Hortenstine, SIOR, and Susan Haysom, CCIM, represented the tenant, Borusan Pipe. Stream’s Tyler Maner and Jeremy Lumbreras represented the landlord, a joint venture between Stream Realty Partners and Principal Asset Management ^SM, in the transaction.

The lease is for a new distribution center and will be an expansion of the company’s current Texas headquarters. Borusan owns a production facility located across the street at 4949 Borusan Road. The company operates three manufacturing locations across the United States. The Baytown plant produces tubular goods and steel pipes used in oil, natural gas exploration, and extraction wells and pipelines.

Portside Logistics Center – Building 2, located at 4908 Borusan Road, is a new construction industrial space totaling 258,248 sq. ft. The site offers immediate access to the Grand Parkway, Interstate10 and Highway 225. Additionally, this property offers access to Houston’s two container terminals.

If there’s one thing I’ve learned in the multifamily industry, it’s this: the best way to ensure your amenities are valued is to ask the people who use them – your residents.

At WithMe, Inc., we regularly survey thousands of residents, and the results from our latest round of questions reinforced something I’ve always believed: practical, everyday amenities win over flashy, trend-driven features every single time.

It’s not about chasing fads or selecting features that look good in a photo. It’s about creating spaces that truly fit into residents’ lives. From coffee bars that power up their mornings to full-service fitness centers and smart-home features that add convenience and control, the amenities residents love are the ones that make life a little easier.

Let’s talk about what really matters to residents and how focusing on practical, impactful options can transform your properties into communities people are proud to call home.

Jonathan Treble is founder and chief executive officer of amenities provider WithMe, Inc.

Why Feedback Outranks Trends

The multifamily industry is never short on trend reports promising to reveal the “next big thing” in amenities. While these reports can be fun to read and may spark ideas, they often miss the mark on what truly matters: the real preferences of your residents.

That’s why, at WithMe, we prioritize data straight from the source—our communities. Our latest survey confirmed what we’ve always known: while national trends can be helpful guides, it’s the local factors, like market conditions and resident demographics, that really tell the story.

For instance, what works for a student housing property – think study lounges and shared workspaces – might look entirely different for a family-focused property, where playgrounds or childcare services shine.

Here’s the simple truth: residents live in your spaces, not in a trend report. Listening to their voices is the best way to create communities that feel like home.

What Residents Actually Use

Too often, properties pour resources into “Instagram-worthy” amenities—rooftop lounges, luxury spas or infinity pools. They’re eye-catching, sure, but here’s the reality: many of these features often go underused.

Meanwhile, it’s the practical, accessible amenities that residents use day in and day out that build loyalty and make life better. Our latest survey highlights what truly resonates:

• Full-Service Fitness Centers: Convenience is everything. A well-equipped fitness center allows residents to work out on their own terms – no extra memberships, no added hassle. In today’s world, this isn’t just a perk; it’s an expectation.
• Coffee Bars: More than just a caffeine fix, a great coffee bar becomes a community cornerstone. Whether fueling a busy morning or serving as a gathering spot during the day, this amenity delivers daily value and fosters connection.
• Pools: Pools aren’t just about swimming – they’re community hubs. Residents use them to unwind, stay active and connect with neighbors. The best pools turn into spaces where relationships thrive.
• Technology-Enabled Amenities: From smart thermostats to community printers, these features don’t just simplify daily life—they empower residents. It’s about giving people control and convenience, seamlessly.

The takeaway? Focus on what your residents value in their everyday lives. These are the amenities that create not just a place to live, but a community to love.

The End of One-Size-Fits-All

The days of cookie-cutter amenities are over. Today’s residents expect tailored experiences, and they want a say in shaping them. WithMe’s high survey response rates show just how eager people are to contribute to the design of their communities.

Creating feedback loops is essential. Regular surveys, focus groups and one-on-one check-ins ensure that amenities evolve alongside residents’ needs. It’s a win-win: residents feel heard, and properties avoid wasting resources on features that don’t deliver value.

This approach also strengthens satisfaction and retention. When residents see their preferences reflected in their living spaces, they’re more likely to stay. And in multifamily, resident retention isn’t just good business – it’s the foundation of a thriving community.

2025 and Beyond: The Practicality Revolution

Looking ahead, one thing is clear: the future of multifamily living is about thoughtful functionality over fleeting trends. The communities that thrive won’t be defined by aesthetics alone, but by spaces that make daily life better, easier and more connected.

At the heart of this practicality revolution is a simple truth: listening is your most powerful tool. Industry trends may inspire, but the voices of your residents will always guide you to what truly matters.

The best communities aren’t built on assumptions – they’re shaped by the people who call them home. As we step into 2025, let’s keep asking the question that drives meaningful change: “What do you value most?”

Jonathan Treble is founder and chief executive officer of amenities provider WithMe, Inc.

Partners Development acquired more than 4.2 acres of medical-zoned property within the Easton Park master-planned community in Southeast Austin, Texas.

This strategic acquisition marks a significant step forward in Partners Development’s plans to develop a multi-phase medical and professional services complex tailored to meet the needs of one of Austin’s most dynamic and rapidly growing communities.

Developed by Brookfield Properties, the 2,700-acre Easton Park has experienced remarkable residential growth since its inception in 2016, expanding from 350 homes to a planned 12,000 units. This influx of new residents has created a noticeable gap in available healthcare services, with a documented shortage of over 300 doctors within a 5-mile radius.

Partners plans to develop one to four buildings in phases, with flexibility to adapt to tenant demand and market conditions. The strategy includes multiple exit scenarios, such as leasing or selling individual buildings, ensuring alignment with community needs and investor objectives.

It’s not a surprise, but developers have significantly reduced the amount of office space they are building this year.

According to the latest research from CommercialEdge, only 57.8 million square feet of office space was under construction as of November of this year. The construction pipeline in this sector, then, has shrunk by 39 million square feet year-to-date.

CommercialEdge reported, too, that developers completed only 39.7 million square feet of new office projects this year, while construction crews broke ground on just 9.1 million square feet of new office space.

Need move evidence of the challenges that the office sector faces? According to CommercialEdge, six of the top-25 office markets have recorded year-over-year vacancy increases of more than 500 basis points so far in 2024. Austin, Texas, leads the way, with office vacancy rates 650 basis points higher as of the end of November this year compared with last.

In slightly better news, listing rates have risen. CommercialEdge reported hat the average office listing rate stood at $32.85 a square foot as of the end of November, a jump of 3.7% when compared to the same month a year ago.

Midwestern markets remain the most office across the nation, with asking office rents averaging just $21.56 a square foot in Detroit, $26.37 in the Twin Cities and $27.05 in Chicago.

Marcus & Millichap brokered the sale of a three-tenant veterinary medicine office property in Plano, Texas.  

William Skoch and Christopher Mitchel, veterinary real estate investment specialists in Marcus & Millichap’s Cleveland office, had the exclusive listing to market the property on behalf of the sellers, a group of sixteen veterinarians who owned the building since 2004. Tim Speck is the Broker of Record in Texas. 

Located on 2.8 acres at 10225 Custer Road, the 9,308-square-foot specialty veterinary and emergency facility is open 24/7, 365 days a year. Fully leased to two of the nation’s leading veterinary providers, VCA and Ethos Veterinary Health, the facility includes three tenants: Dallas Veterinary Surgical Center and Emergency Animal Hospital of Collin County, both operating under Ethos, and Animal Diagnostic Clinic, operating under VCA. 

BAUER Groupnegotiated two full-building leases totaling 84,320 square feet at NorthStar Industrial Park, a five-building, Class-A industrial project on 79 acres at 100 FM 3083 in Conroe, Texas, totaling approximately 200,000 square feet.

The leases include a 57,120-square-foot lease with Unimacts and a 27,200-square-foot lease with Membrane Platforms.

Avison Young’s Drew Coupe and Dawson Smith who are both out of the firm’s Houston office are exclusively representing BAUER Group with marketing efforts for the site.

The Unimacts lease is at 100 North FM 3083, Building A. The tenant has expanded within NorthStar Industrial Park where it already occupied 64,177 sf in Building B (full building). The space will be used for industrial activities in compliance with all applicable laws, including the storage manufacturing, and distribution of steel tubing for the solar energy industry.

The Membrane Platforms lease is at 100 North FM 3083, Building D. The space will be used for the production and design of gas generation systems. Membrane Platforms was represented on this transaction by Ron Wickes of Walzel Properties.

With these two leases, Building E is the one remaining building available for lease and totals 32,950 sf. The facility features two 50-ton cranes with 40’ hook heights and potential for large heavy stabilization laydown yard (up to 17 acres that can be leased separately).