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Retail properties already understand seasonality. Holiday shopping changes traffic patterns. Weather changes customer behavior. School calendars affect family activity. But seasonality can also create a different opportunity: temporary uses for parking-lot space. Many...

When a carnival or traveling attraction comes to town, the operator has a very specific real estate problem: it needs a lot of space, good access, strong visibility, and a location where people can find it. Traditional commercial leases are often not the answer....

When commercial real estate owners look for ways to improve a property's financial performance, the conversation often turns to leasing, redevelopment, capital improvements, or tenant mix. Those strategies can be powerful. They can also require significant time and...

  A shopping center can have strong tenants, good traffic, and valuable real estate—and still have an overlooked revenue opportunity sitting outside the front doors. It is the parking lot. Most owners understandably think first about parking as a service that...

Shopping center parking lots are usually treated as infrastructure: necessary for customers, employees, deliveries, and tenant access. But when portions of that space sit unused for days, weeks, or entire seasons, they can also become flexible revenue-producing...

Commercial real estate owners are increasingly looking beyond traditional lease income to improve property performance. Underutilized parking areas represent an overlooked opportunity to generate ancillary revenue while creating new reasons for customers to visit a...

Commercial real estate owners are increasingly looking beyond traditional lease income to improve property performance. Underutilized parking areas represent an overlooked opportunity to generate ancillary revenue while creating new reasons for customers to visit a...

Retail real estate owners are increasingly looking to ancillary revenue as a way to strengthen net operating income without waiting for new long-term leases. One of the most overlooked opportunities is excess parking. Temporary users—including carnivals, circuses,...

Retail real estate owners are increasingly looking to ancillary revenue as a way to strengthen net operating income without waiting for new long-term leases. One of the most overlooked opportunities is excess parking. Temporary users—including carnivals, circuses,...

Retail real estate owners are increasingly looking to ancillary revenue as a way to strengthen net operating income without waiting for new long-term leases. One of the most overlooked opportunities is excess parking. Temporary users—including carnivals, circuses,...

The most successful property owners today are thinking differently about space. Instead of viewing parking lots as static infrastructure, they’re treating them as flexible, multi-use platforms. This shift unlocks new possibilities: Short-term leasing to event...

Retail has fundamentally changed. Consumers are no longer just shopping—they’re seeking experiences. This shift is reshaping how physical space is used, especially in shopping centers. Parking lots, once purely functional, are now emerging as experiential hubs. They...

Revitalizing a struggling shopping center is rarely quick—or inexpensive. Traditional approaches like redevelopment or re-tenanting can take years. Parking lot activations, however, offer a faster path to visible change. By introducing events and temporary uses,...

Farmers markets have become a staple in communities across the country—and for good reason. They combine local commerce, fresh food, and social experience into a highly attractive weekly event. For shopping center owners, they offer two powerful benefits: 1. Direct...

A mid-sized regional mall faced a common challenge: too much parking, not enough traffic. Large sections of the lot sat empty most of the year, generating no revenue and contributing little to the property’s performance. Instead of viewing the space as excess,...

Occasional events are good. A year-round activation strategy is significantly better. The most successful properties treat parking lot monetization like a leasing pipeline—actively planning and filling the calendar. Start with seasonality: Spring: Farmers markets,...

Traditional retail leases weren’t designed for 3-day events or 30-day activations. That’s why many landlords are shifting toward license agreements for parking lot use. Licenses offer a simpler, more flexible approach. Unlike leases, licenses: Are easier to execute...

Parking lot activations are one of the simplest ways to generate incremental revenue—but they’re not without operational considerations. Understanding the basics of permits, insurance, and logistics ensures that events run smoothly while protecting your asset....