Building Operations
Partnerships with City Officials: A Key Component to Advocacy Success
Partnerships with City Officials: A Key Component to Advocacy Success By Ron Tabaczynski, BOMA/Chicago Director of Government Affairs Advocating on behalf of our members is one of the most important and valuable services a trade association like BOMA/Chicago provides. Our members clearly look to us to be the voice for commercial real estate in the City of…
Read MoreA Guaranteed Return on Investment: Your BOMA/Chicago Membership Dues
A Guaranteed Return on Investment: Your BOMA/Chicago Membership Dues By BOMA/Chicago Did you know that your BOMA/Chicago membership dues accrue a direct dollar for dollar benefit to your property, staff and building owners? As all of you are preparing to pay your 2014 BOMA/Chicago invoices by January 30, we wanted to take time to reflect…
Read MoreDeath of the Office Door
Death of the Office Door By the BOMA/Chicago Emerging Leaders Subcommittee What do open seating workspaces, Zen rooms, fully loaded kitchens, outdoor decks, Lego conference tables and open bars have in common? All are located in downtown Chicago office spaces and are part of a technology-driven trend that addresses the changing needs of today’s office…
Read MoreHow to Effectively Plan Ahead for 2014’s Concealed Carry Act
How to Effectively Plan Ahead for 2014’s Concealed Carry Act By BOMA/Chicago Security Committee Many Chicagoans would be shocked to see a “No Guns Allowed” sign at the entrance of a hospital. To us, this is implicit knowledge. Richard A. Devine, a Former State’s Attorney and current Partner at Meckler Bulger Tilson Marick & Pearson,…
Read MoreState Fire Marshall Withdraws Sprinkler Proposal
State Fire Marshall Withdraws Sprinkler Proposal August 2, 2013 On August 2, 2013, Illinois State Fire Marshal Larry Matkaitis withdrew his controversial proposal to update the Illinois fire safety code, which would have required the installation of fire sprinklers in all high-rise buildings and new homes. Due to the withdrawal of this proposal, the public hearing…
Read MoreBOMA/Chicago Opposes Proposal to Extend SSA #1 Taxation to New Parcels; First Committee Hearing April 30
BOMA/Chicago Opposes Proposal to Extend SSA #1 Taxation to New Parcels; First Committee Hearing April 30 July 13, 2015 The BOMA/Chicago Board of Directors recently adopted a position to publicly oppose any attempt to renew the State Street Special Service Area (SSA) if the proposed renewal adds any additional taxable parcels not taxed under the…
Read MoreChicago’s Proposed Energy Benchmarking Ordinance: Our Support for Energy Intel, But Opposition to Public Disclosure
Chicago’s Proposed Energy Benchmarking Ordinance: Our Support for Energy Intel, But Opposition to Public Disclosure By Michael Cornicelli On June 26, 2013, Mayor Emanuel unveiled an energy benchmarking ordinance that, if passed by the City Council, would require municipal, commercial and residential properties over 50,000 square feet to track and publicly report their energy usage.…
Read MoreDisastrous Due Diligence, or Due Diligence pre-Disaster?
Disastrous Due Diligence, or Due Diligence pre-Disaster? By the BOMA/Chicago Business Continuity and Resiliency Committee Chicago building owners and managers wouldn’t wait for June to make plans for spring landscaping or December to plan for snow and ice. Yet still, many property managers wait to connect with a building restoration contractor until an actual property disaster hits –…
Read MoreWhen Disaster Strikes: Have a Plan Ready
When Disaster Strikes: Have a Plan Ready By the BOMA/Chicago Business Continuity and Resiliency Committee If recent events during the past year have taught us anything – Hurricane Sandy, wildfires, earthquakes and seemingly dozens of harsh winter storms, to name a few – it’s that natural disasters and severe weather emergencies can hit anytime, anywhere, and with little to no…
Read MoreThe Creepy, Crawly Facts about Bed Bugs in Office Buildings
The Creepy, Crawly Facts about Bed Bugs in Office Buildings By Carla Wagner, Operations Manager, Canine Detection & Inspection Services One would think that the potential for bed bugs in office buildings would be extremely low, given the lack of, well, beds. Unfortunately, that’s not what pest professionals in the field are encountering. In fact, a 2011…
Read More