The City of Warsaw and JLL will implement a pilot program aimed at increasing the attractiveness of the Warsaw City Centre in the eyes of potential tenants and customers. The changes will be introduced starting with Marszałkowska and Aleje Jerozolimskie Streets.

Warsaw is experiencing growing demand for offices, absorption of new space, decreasing vacancy rates, and is expected to see rental growth and strong investment volumes. Next year, the city should further cement its dominant position as a thriving business hub and a regional leader in terms of economic growth and office market maturity. These economic fundamentals show no signs of slowing down, according to a report by JLL.

Globalworth announced that Dimitris Raptis will be appointed interim CEO of Globalworth Poland Real Estate N.V. (GPRE). At the same time, he will keep his responsibilities within the Globalworth group, as Group Deputy CEO and Chief Investment Officer.

Polish developer Porto was granted a €29 million loan by the European Investment Bank via Bank Gospodarstwa Krajowego (BGP) for the construction of a mixed-use complex in Szczecin. Thanks to the application of pro-ecological technology, Posejdon will reduce CO2 emissions up to even 76% compared to a similar building constructed using a traditional technology.

In its capacity as agent, arranger and sole underwriter, Helaba is financing the centrally located shopping centre “Wars Sawa Junior” for Atrium European Real Estate Limited. The German Landesbank is providing a loan in an amount of €170 million with a term of eight years for the acquisition.

After nearly a decade, the Avatar office building will be offering office space for lease again. A total of 2,400 sqm of space spread over two storeys will become available for new tenants in Q2 2020. BNP Paribas Real Estate will represent the building’s owner – the Spanish fund Azora Europa, as the exclusive agent for the leasing process.

JLL has decided to enter the residential market. With the acquisition of REAS, JLL will become the first advisory firm to operate on all segments of the real estate business in Poland. Working within the structures of JLL, REAS will be responsible for developing Living Services in both Poland and Central & Eastern Europe.

Cushman & Wakefield has been appointed an exclusive agent for leasing office space at Horizon Plaza in the Mokotów district in Warsaw.

According to Cushman & Wakefield, commercial real estate in the first three quarters of 2018 the total investment volume in six CEE countries (Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania and Russia) reached €8.9 billion. Investment activity in Poland exceeded the value recorded for the whole of 2017 and is expected to reach a record high of €6 billion by the year’s end. The sustainable and solid performance was recorded in Hungary and Slovakia with volumes hitting those in 2017, whereas Russia, the Czech Republic and Romania are expected to close the year at lower investment volumes, slightly below the 2017 levels.

Skanska has sold Buildings C and D of the Silesia Business Park, a four-building office complex in Katowice. The buyer is ISOC Group, a diversified real estate and infrastructure investment group, based in Manila, Philippines. This is Skanska’s first CEE office divestment transaction to a Philippine investor. With the sale of buildings C and D, the developer has now sold all four properties in the Silesia Business Park complex. Buildings A and B were divested in 2015 to a Swedish investor.