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COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE TAKES CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY TO THE NEXT LEVEL

In the business world, employees have always had a responsibility to do well. Now, they also have an opportunity to do good.

Companies are putting an increased emphasis on social change, and several large commercial real estate firms are incentivizing their employees to get involved by increasing green initiatives, promoting community service and improving diversity in the workplace.

Here are three ways commercial real estate firms are taking on corporate social responsibility.

1. GOING GREEN

Companies are beginning to address the realities of climate change. Instead of focusing on disaster recovery efforts, the commercial real estate industry is focusing on disaster resiliency.

Accounting, Tax and Consulting firm Mazars recently established a set of plans to offset carbon emissions and established a Green Team to foster a culture of environmental awareness. The Green Team has introduced several new

initiatives, including reducing paper printouts, implementing a formal recycling program and providing regular environmental tips to fellow employees.

Mazars will also be hosting its Fourth Annual “Days of Service," a volunteer initiative that encourages employees to spend a full workday assisting local service agencies, like garden revitalizations at parks and beach cleanups to promote environmental sustainability. The "Days of Service" initiative is part of the firm’s “We Are Mazars” program, which fosters employees’ per-sonal and professional growth through the tenets of association, respect and excellence.

Architects and developers are also implement-ing green initiatives in their properties. More buildings are pursuing Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Certification, a global rating system that provides a framework for sustainability.

Other organizations are taking a similar approach to establishing building rating systems. The Global Real Estate Sustainability Benchmark, for

instance, assesses sustainability of infrastruc-ture projects and real estate assets worldwide. The Carbon Disclosure Project runs a global disclosure system to help investors, companies and cities measure and manage their environ-mental impact. CDP provides data and insights to help companies contribute to a more sustainable economy.

“The information reported by these organizations is having an effect on how investors view projects making a correlation between projects with good sustainability translate into good investments,” Mazars Partner, Ron Lagnado said.

2. TALKING ABOUT DIVERSITY

In the wake of the #metoo movement, the com-mercial real estate industry is beginning to invest in diversity initiatives. Several organizations have launched programs that support women and minorities as they navigate their CRE careers.

For example, Mazars introduced Women@Mazars, a long-standing program supporting the full potential of women leaders through education

BY BISNOW, SPONSORED BY MAZARS

REAL ESTATE

May/June 2018 | 5

and awareness. Its goal is to improve visibility of, and access to, role models. Mazars' “Be Visible” campaign also features women leaders that embody the core values and principles the firm seeks to promote.

A recent CREW report revealed several roadblocks for women in real estate. The industry median annual compensation for women is $115K, compared to $150K for men. Women in the industry are also 54% less likely than men to have a sponsor, or someone who can provide career advice and help them advance professionally.

Commercial real estate company Bozzuto has expressed a commitment to changing those statistics and increasing diversity across the organiza-tion and the industry. The company promotes a culture of gender equality through mentorship and sponsorship initiatives like the Women At Bozzuto Network. At Bozzuto Management Company, a subsidiary of the Bozzuto Group, 76% of leadership roles are held by women.

“Last year, we had one of our best years in terms of profitability, and I attri-bute this to having greater diversity within our company,” Bozzuto President and CEO Toby Bozzuto said. "This diversity allows us to be more reflective of our customers and clients. While having a diverse workforce is the right thing from a cultural perspective, I also believe it’s the best way to run our business.”

The commercial real estate industry has also begun investing in programs that increase racial and cultural diversity. In an industry of over 125,000 professionals, less than 1% of management positions are held by people of color. To increase diversity across the industry, NAIOP launched a Real Estate Associate Program, which helps prepare minority professionals for a career in commercial real estate.

3. COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

In addition to promoting changes internally to push the industry forward, commercial real estate firms have begun implementing initiatives that impact the larger community.

“A company cannot build or develop itself by staying wrapped up in its own profession,” Mazars Partner, Arthur Adams said. “It must encounter others and invest in the long term.”

Architects and designers have started incorporating community spaces into their developments. Essex Crossing in New York City's Lower East Side has branded itself with the idea of community in mind. Essex Crossing's 100K SF of green space, including a public park, urban farm and rooftop terraces, offer tenants several opportunities to embrace community living.

Further uptown, 15 Hudson Yards provides residents several opportunities to get to know their neighbors. In addition to views of the city, the building's

51st floor features a lounge space with tables, chairs and couches. An imag-ination center provides the building's youngest residents with art, activities and interactive play spaces.

Several commercial real estate companies have shifted their focus to pub-lic-private partnerships that drive social change while still earning a profit. Developers and architects are spearheading more projects that include affordable housing and foster economic development through construction jobs. Many mixed-use developments also offer parks and community spaces that encourage collaboration and interaction with neighbors.

In South Boston, DJ Properties planned to build a mixed-use development, but wanted to ensure existing neighborhood residents felt welcome. The development firm solicited community feedback via a survey and conducted meetings with residents who would be directly impacted by the project. The outcome was a community development that would bring new economic op-portunities to the area, while reflecting the needs of the existing community. Other projects have integrated community engagement and training pro-grams into their master plan. In Washington, D.C., Monroe Street Market has grown into a vibrant mixed-use community with 20 multifamily residences, 45 townhouses and 83K SF of retail space. But it also includes 27 affordable artist studios and incorporates an arts walk and community arts center that encourages learning and collaboration among locals.

In Macon, Georgia, developers transformed vacant mill houses into an affordable arts community. The Mill Hill project includes a community arts center and a culinary school to promote training programs, emphasizing an existing problem in creative placemaking. While mixed-use developments are intended to promote economic development and growth, it can often have the reverse effect, leading to the displacement of long-time residents. Mill Hill’s main goal is to achieve equality and inclusion through ethical development.

As corporate social responsibility continues to gain traction, commercial real estate has joined the movement to improve the environment around them from the physical spaces to the people who occupy them. The industry is starting to experiment with new technology, and more real estate profession-als will start to use these tools to help make an impact on their community.

To view all Mazars sponsored pieces for Bisnow, visit https://www.bisnow.com/blogs/mazars

Arthur is a Partner in our New York Practice. He can be reached at 212.375.6524 or at Arthur.Adams@MazarsUSA.com.

Ron is a Partner in our New York Practice. He can be reached at 212.375.6551 or at Ron.Lagnado@MazarsUSA.com.