As Indianapolis continues to grow, one commercial real estate expert knows how to bring more workers back downtown. 

Spencer Levy, a Global Client Strategist and Senior Economic Advisor with CBRE, says the future of commercial real estate in Indiana looks bright. With more than 30 years of experience in the business, Levy says he looks at “mega-trends” to forecast where commercial real estate is headed. Those trends include strengthening manufacturing and the movement of economic centers from business districts to mixed-use environments like Bottleworks in Indianapolis, where a consumer can work, live, and play in the same area.  

Levy also says access to cheap energy and empty land creates an ideal environment for growth in Central Indiana. He says those factors will attract new manufacturing operations and data centers.  

When looking at what he calls “durable demand drivers” to forecast growth in an area, Levy points to universities and hospitals. Still, he says entertainment districts are also a key to growth in Indianapolis. He says the combination of new and old buildings downtown creates a unique environment that could attract businesses.  

When looking for ways to improve Indianapolis’s commercial real estate business, Levy suggests easing permit requirements and creating special innovation zones where buildings can be built or converted faster. He says this will make building easier and faster. “Growth is the only solution.”