What are your predictions for commercial real estate in 2019? - by Carol Todreas

Despite the questionable economy and the multitude of retail closures, Boston’s retail real estate in upscale tourist and demographic locations will remain unscathed unless landlords drastically raise rents. Developers will continue building retail space for national chains; new local retailers will be challenged to find space. Pop-ups will still fill empty spaces while landlords struggle to change old leasing practices. Retail real estate in many suburbs will increase in value as demand increases with millennial residents. Savvy department stores will tweak and shrink to fit into urban and suburban commercial buildings. Savvy municipalities will become business-friendly for new retailers.