Boasting easy access to Virginia, Maryland and Delaware, Washington, D.C. could be a dream come true for certain business needs. Proximity to this country’s political epicenter could top the list, but it’s hardly the only reason why companies head here. The Interstate 495 “Capital Beltway” highway system that makes transportation direct and efficient is another perk. The economic powerhouses that are already located in this region often encourage employees and employers to relocate here, too. As a senior vice president with West, Lane & Schlager Realty Advisors, Josh Kurstin has seen first-hand the reasons why the D.C. metro area is so sought-after. Below, we’ll look at some real-world examples from Josh Kurstin’s portfolio as a way to explore and explain what some clients are after.
Trendsetters:
Roadside barbecue in the south, produce stands in the northeast and Tex-Mex in
the southwest – each region of the country has a style of food that has taken
hold. When a second Hawaiian poké bowl restaurant came to Arlington, Virginia, it
was because the market demanded it. The first location in Pentagon City opened
in 2018 so the 2019 so the Arlington Square location along N. Fairfax Drive
would meet the wants and needs of even more customers. What’s more, WTOP.com
notes that the office space in the building was “mostly vacated by the U.S.
Fish and Wildlife Service in 2014.” Josh Kurstin, as representative of the University
of Phoenix during the deal, notes that Poke it Up will be joined by fast-casual
sandwich shop Zoup! This means that it’s occasionally possible to bring in two
tax-paying businesses and breathe life into a formerly vacant building space.
A Stone’s Throw: When aerospace company Bell decided that development of
its vertical lift V-280 Valor aircraft would be improved by easy access to
decision-makers in D.C., a new building was required. Jeffrey Schloesser,
Bell’s executive vice president of strategic pursuits, knew that being near the
Pentagon and Capitol building was essential and would have a payoff in the long
run. There would be a number of “wants” and “needs” to address first, which
Josh Kurstin would have to keep confidential as he found a footprint for the
client. Among Bell’s requests was being close enough to Ronald Reagan
Washington National Airport, having easy access to the Metro and a building
that would allow the company to showcase its work. The end result, made
possible by JLL and Josh Kurstin, was a Crystal City, Virginia location that
fit the bill.
Commercial real estate agents help make meaningful additions to the local economy possible. Accomplishing this requires an in-depth knowledge of the market and Josh Kurstin has provided his insight time and again when negotiating successful deals.
