Jim Connor, chairman and CEO of Duke Realty Corp. (NYSE: DRE), joined Nareit in New York for a video interview at REITweek: 2019 Investor Conference.
Connor said that Duke Realty’s distinguishing factor among other industrial REITs is its young, high-quality portfolio, which he believes will outperform in the long-term.
Turning to the importance of sustainable business practices, Connor said Duke Realty believes in being a good corporate citizen. He said highlights of the REIT’s sustainable practices include environmentally remediating construction sites nationwide, recycling materials like brick, concrete, and steel during demolition, and serving as a leader in LEED development.
“We have a corporate initiative to do another billion dollars of LEED-certified development in the next three years,” he noted.
Connor added that Duke Realty sees the top-performing U.S. markets as Southern California and Northern New Jersey due to large populations and commerce driven by the seaports.