Lulling shoppers with private daycare, and betting on the South Bronx Apr 10, 2015

Here are the news stories you might have missed this week:

The Wall Street Journal: Jersey City mayor seeks to limit chain stores downtown
Jersey City wants to break from the shackles of chain restaurants and stores.  The mayor has proposed new rules that would limit chain retailers in the city’s downtown, aiming to keep locally owned shops in business and make Jersey City a true destination.  Proponents of these regulations say it will keep rents manageable for business, but other business leaders argue it’s simply turning business away.  Jersey City has grown in recent years due to New York spillover, but it still has prime space for development and redevelopment.  To learn more about the debate, head to WSJ.com.

Austin Business Journal: New Austin developer uses preschool projects to maximize retail success
Austin’s getting schooled, well, preschooled.  An Austin-based developer is expanding the amenities offered at traditional shopping centers by opening a center with a private preschool to cater to the growing demand for daycare services.  With new housing developments coming online and childcare needs on the rise, expect to see more private preschools enter retail marketplaces in the near future.  Learn more about this development at BizJournals.com.

New York Daily News: South Bronx sizzle: Once a symbol of urban blight, the formerly burned out neighborhood is now a major draw for investors
The New York Yankees call the Bronx home, and investors are betting a lot more people will in the future.  The South Bronx is seeing a flurry of multifamily and commercial transaction — multifamily and development site sales are up 67 percent and 85 percent, respectively, since last year — as investors are betting that the South Bronx is the new hot NYC neighborhood.  Because the South Bronx is still cheap compared to other boroughs, developers eyeing future growth opportunities are snatching up sites, afraid they’ll miss out if they wait too long.  Read more about the battle for the South Bronx at NYDailyNews.com.

Phoenix Business Journal: Arizona’s shrinking semiconductor sector forcing real estate fallout
Arizona real estate in on a downward spiral, and the state’s dwindling semiconductor sector is to blame.  The state’s semiconductor industry is half of what it was a decade ago, and many former manufacturing sites now sit empty.  This sector fallout is not only shaking the manufacturing industry, but disrupting Phoenix’s broader commercial real estate market.  As a result, developers are turning former semiconductor space into high tech offices, new mixed-use buildings, and even residential properties to attract new businesses and residents.  To read the whole story, go to BizJournals.com.