Theodore Klinck
Analyst · Baird. Please proceed with your question
Thanks, Ed, and good morning. As Ed noted, we had solid activity this quarter, leasing 902,000 square feet of second-gen office space, and year-over-year asking rents continue to increase across all of our markets. Average in-place cash rental rents across our office portfolio were $23.48 per square foot, 3% higher than a year ago. Occupancy was 92.7% as of March 31, up 80 basis points year-over-year, although slightly down from year-end due to the sale of the 96.9% occupied, 1.3 million-square-foot plaza, as well as two expected move outs in Pittsburgh that I will discuss in just a minute. Given our market dynamics, we remain comfortable with our 2016 year-end occupancy outlook of 92.5% to 93.5%. For office leases signed in the first quarter, starting cash rents were basically flat at negative 0.2%, and GAAP rents grew a robust 9.7%. Average term was 6.5 years, five months longer than the prior five-quarter average. And leasing CapEx was $17.65 per square foot, 13.6% lower than the prior five-quarter average. We are pleased with the economics we garnered, with a net effective rents of $14.54 per square foot, 5.9% higher than the prior five-quarter average. Turning to markets. Our Atlanta portfolio was 92.1% occupied at quarter end, up 260 basis points year-over-year. During the quarter, we leased 251,000 square feet, including two long-term federal government renewals encompassing 212,000 square feet with the CDC in Century Center with very low-leasing CapEx. We only have 198,000 square feet of remaining 2016 rollover exposure in Atlanta. This includes a previously disclosed 58,000 square foot, second quarter known move out at Monarch in Buckhead that was factored into our acquisition underwriting. We are very pleased with the operational performance of our 1.9 million-square-foot Buckhead portfolio. Year-over-year asking rents are up 10% on average. After backing out near-term move-outs at Monarch, move-outs known before the acquisition. Occupancy in our Buckhead portfolio grew 240 basis points from 86.4% in September 30 to 88.8% at March 31 and is projected to increase another 200 basis points by year-end. Strong growth in Nashville continues. 129,000 square feet of positive net absorption in the first quarter. The market's unemployment rate is 3.5%, 150 basis points below the national average. Direct market vacancy is 7.5%. Occupancy in our portfolio is 99.6% at quarter-end, up 40 basis points sequentially and up 430 basis points year-over-year. And we have less than 100,000 square feet set to expire by year-end. The construction of Seven Springs II, our 131,000-square-foot office building with structured parking, is well under way. This $38.1 million development is 43% pre-leased, with completion scheduled for the second quarter of 2017 and stabilization in the third quarter of 2018. The volume of prospects is strong. In Raleigh, office jobs grew 3.2%, 100 basis points above the national average, and the office market posted yet another quarter of positive net absorption. We garnered very strong average GAAP rent growth of 18.7% on over 200,000 square feet of second-gen office leases signed during the quarter. Occupancy in our Raleigh portfolio was 93% at quarter end, up 20 basis points from December 31 and 270 basis points year-over-year. Also, we are working with a sound prospect to GlenLake Five which would bring leasing to 94% and stabilize the building well in advance pro forma. With CBD Pittsburgh, occupancy in our portfolio rolled down from 95.7% at year-end to 91.4% due to 96,000 square feet of anticipated move-outs at our 1.5 million-square-foot PPG Place. One customer, Highmark, a health insurer, consolidated into a building it owns and another customer, Ketchum, a marketing agency, relocated in a very different, low price point product. Pittsburgh's class A CBD market is a solid 94% occupied, and we have 175,000 square feet of strong backfill prospects with asking rent 5% to 7% higher than expiring rents. In conclusion, leasing volumes and the ability to push rents continue to be solid, reflecting positive momentum in our markets the demand for our well-located BBD office product. Even with no move-outs taking occupancy to the 92% range mid-year, occupancy will rebound and average occupancy for full-year 2016 is projected to be some 50 basis points higher than last year. Mark?