The future of cities is in the hands of today’s urban planners and real estate developers. Their decision will determine how an urban area can perform on an increasingly competitive global scene. Creating a city that attracts innovators and investors is in everybody’s interest, but all must be done in a smart, sustainable and responsible way. We report from Bucharest where Portfolio Conferences and RICS have organised SEE Property Forum for the second time.

The total modern office stock in Warsaw reached 4.75 million sqm at the end of Q1 2016. As much as ca. 75% of this space is located in the central Core and Fringe zones, as well as Upper South and South West. Cushman & Wakefield has published the sixth edition of their Skyline Tracker report, outlining developers’ activity in the Warsaw office market.

Immofinanz today sold approx. 18.5 million BUWOG shares to SAPINDA Group, a company located in Amsterdam, London and Luxembourg. The price of EUR 19.00 per share – for a total of approx. EUR 352 million – is 3.5% higher than yesterday’s closing price of EUR 18.36. 

In 2016 commercial real estate investment activity seems to be picking up again in Southeastern Europe after a slightly weaker 2015. Although financing conditions are continuing to improve a lack of high quality product and liquidity still presents a big challenge for all countries of the region. We report from Bucharest where Portfolio Conferences and RICS have organised SEE Property Forum for the second time.

Focus Estate Fund acquired Galeria Sandomierz retail centre in Southeastern Poland from Euro Real Estate Investments LLP. The buyer was represented by Cushman & Wakefield and JLL acted on behalf of the seller.

Cushman & Wakefield Hospitality have been appointed by Cube Sp. z o.o. to sell the 4-star Mercure Sepia Hotel located in Bydgoszcz, Poland. The property was opened in December 2014 as a new hotel, combining a historical building dated late 19th century and a new building.

The first quarter of 2016 in the Czech Republic was characterized by a lack of logistics and industrial space, demand for office space and high volume of investment into real estate. Colliers International released its latest report summarizing trends on the investment, office and industrial markets.

International real estate developer HB Reavis has announced the acquisition of the BEM Palace in Budapest from Europa Property Fund. Located in the heart of Buda, BEM Palace is the company’s third development site purchased in the Hungarian market and their first redevelopment project across all markets. 

Horizon Development’s re-conceptualized historic building Váci 1 in Downtown Budapest has fully opened. The 13,750 sqm UNESCO World Heritage listed neo-classicist palace - constructed between 1911 and 1915 - is home to the newest flagship store of H&M.

Major cities of Southeastern Europe have had to face many challenges: wars, earthquakes and the drastic redevelopments of the socialist era. Today, they are trying to rebuild themselves and become modern, European capitals. We look at three countries, three capitals – and three very different plans for city developments.