Opinion
Columnists, guest columns, op-eds and editorials published in Banker & Tradesman and its special sections.
Guest Columns and Op-Eds
From high officials to lone operators, read a diverse cross section of perspectives on the issues facing the Massachusetts real estate and banking industries today.
Pitches for op-eds and special section guest columns should be directed to managing editor James Sanna at jsanna@thewarrengroup.com.
We Need More Family-Sized Homes in the City, Small Homes in the Suburbs
Greater Boston needs lots of housing. But it also needs the right kind of housing to match its demographic trends: seniors needing single-level living and young families needing bigger homes.
Proposed State Stormwater Regulations Will Undermine Our Housing Goals
Rigid and in some cases overengineered solutions would not make projects more resilient, and instead could significantly cut the amount of housing we can produce.
Don’t Discount the English Major
The eye-popping decline in American college students majoring in English is leaving companies bereft of important skills among new hires and eventual potential executives
Investments in Public Art Will Enhance Boston’s Greenway
The Greenway ARTbeat series is not just an investment in public art; it is an investment in the reputation of Boston and the downtown economy.
New ‘HousingLab’ Aims to Clear a Path for More Homes
Our firm is embracing this immense challenge and creating what we are calling our HousingLab, to spread meaningful new ideas to help solve Massachusetts’ housing crisis.
‘Anti-Woke’ Hits the ATM: Citibank Faces a Farce of a Lawsuit
The problem, however, is that this lawsuit may pressure financial institutions to rethink their policies and practices meant to be inclusive.
Back Bay Property Elevates Food and Beverage
The architects and development team behind Raffles Boston sought to create vitality and community through the way food and beverage offerings were integrated into the building’s public and common spaces.
Hotels Benefit from Business Travel Rebound
Our outlook remains optimistic for the Boston market, fueled by group and convention travel, as well as an increase in global tourism and the absence of any significant new hotel developments.
Interest Rates Depress Hotel Capital Markets Activity
With construction debt rates well north of 10 percent, you need aggressive assumptions for development underwriting to yield an attractive return.
Amid Limited Development, Hotel Owners Find Opportunity
Boston hotel operators are benefiting from the recovery of group demand, driving reservations connected to events at the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center.
Americans Leave a Huge Chunk of Change at Airport Checkpoints
Should the U.S. get rid of pennies, nickels and dimes? The debate has gone on for years. And airports offer an unlikely clue to how much people still use pocket change.
Potential Marina Investors Need to Navigate Hazards
Massachusetts is blessed with abundant navigable harbors ideal for marinas. These properties are in high demand, but they present special due diligence issues.
Scott Van Voorhis
Commercial Interests
Columnist Scott Van Voorhis analyzes the commercial real estate market, state politics, housing and more with the perspective of a journalist with 40 years’ experience covering businesses in Massachusetts.
Rent Control? Say It Ain’t So, Joe
President Joe Biden last week jettisoned decades spent crafting an image as a moderate Democrat in a transparent ploy to rally party progressives to his foundering campaign.
Beacon Hill Faces New Housing Choice
A YIMBY tide is rolling across the nation. And the only question for Massachusetts is whether it will ride it willingly or get dragged along kicking and screaming in its wake.
The Case of the Missing ‘Housing Bubble’
The last time home prices went on an epic tear, there was no escaping the talk of a real estate bubble. This time, the commentariat is far more sanguine despite our epic housing supply-demand imbalance.
Boston Team Owners Go From Trophies to Towers
These days everyone seems to have a side hustle going. Apparently, that also includes the fabulously wealthy owners of Boston’s pro sports teams, all of whom have made real estate a second career of sorts.
Lew Sichelman
The Housing Scene
Syndicated residential real estate columnist Lew Sichelman has been covering real estate for more than 50 years. He is a regular contributor to numerous shelter magazines and housing and housing-finance industry publications.
Your House Can Hurt You
A new analysis of Consumer Product Safety Commission data shows that millions of visits to local emergency rooms are the result of accidents in the home.
Insuring Vacation Properties Has Its Share of Quirks
If you don’t tell the insurance company that their getaway home is not always occupied, they could be in for some surprises.
Sellers: Follow the Golden Rule
The manner in which sellers leave their homes for the next owners says a lot about their character. But considerate sellers exist, and they get rewarded by the housing market.
Spotting Design Flaws
No newly constructed house is perfect. That’s why builders employ customer service teams to go back after customers move in and rectify whatever issues have popped up.