November 19-December 2, 2014 —
COLORADO REAL ESTATE JOURNAL
— Page 27
303.383.4870
D
enver Metro BOMA’s
2014 slogan, “Leaders
Building Value,” is
not just a tag line. Rather, it has
proven to be an affirmation of the
association’s mission “to advance
the commercial real estate indus-
try through advocacy, knowledge
exchange and professional devel-
opment” – with a number of very
exciting advancements being
realized.
Members advocate on behalf
of their stakeholders on many
issues. During the 2014 legisla-
tive session, BOMA strongly
opposed and defeated House
Bill 14-1165, entitled “Private
Construction Contract Retainage
and Payments,” which requires
property owners who contract for
improvements to pay 95 percent
of the amount due, and to pay
subcontractors immediately upon
final acceptance or be subject
to the payment of interest and
penalties. As a result of BOMA’s
efforts, this annual retainage
bill was postponed indefinitely.
BOMA also opposed HB14-
1375, the Urban Redevelopment
Fairness Act, which if not vetoed
by the governor in June would
have made a number of modifica-
tions to the urban renewal law.
However, the association did sup-
port Senate Bill 14-028, regard-
ing expanding the list of individu-
als who are eligible for receiving
monies from the Electric Vehicle
Charging Station Grant Fund,
and SB14-103, the Phase In
High-Efficiency Water Fixture
Options bill.
BOMA has long been a pro-
ponent of benchmarking and
voluntary actions to save energy
and water. The association’s
environmental sustainability
initiatives were of great impor-
tance this year as demonstrated
by BOMA’s partnership with
Denver on the City Energy
Project and its Watts to Water
Program. Also in concert with
sustainability, the BOMA
International 360 Program con-
tinues to recognize buildings that
encompass the highest standards
of operational excellence and effi-
ciencies. More than 500 buildings
nationwide have achieved the
BOMA 360 designation and in
2014 eight Denver buildings were
added to this list.
Another area of vital impor-
tance to building owners is per-
fecting and delivering leasehold
improvements timely and within
budget. Causing some delay in
meeting this goal was the city’s
strict adherence to Title III of
the Americans with Disabilities
Act. On March 28, 2014, the
Department of Justice ruled
that the maximum civil penalty
for a first ADA violation is now
$75,000, with a maximum pen-
alty of $150,000 for a subsequent
violation. This prompted local
building officials to closely moni-
tor Title III of the ADA, requir-
ing newly constructed or altered
places of public accommodation
as well as commercial facilities
(privately owned, nonresidential
facilities such as factories, ware-
houses or office buildings) to
comply with the ADA standards.
Local owners/property manag-
ers/contractors were unquestion-
ably surprised when building
permits mandated that leasehold
improvements address ADA
compliance issues regarding
seemingly new requirements for
restrooms. These requirements
have existed since Title III was
signed into law Jan. 26, 1992.
The early enforcement of Title
III provisions
was based
on existing
conditions,
which often
allowed the
installation of
handicapped
facilities to be
installed in
a centralized
public area
location, usu-
ally within
the main
lobby area.
In response
to member
inquiries,
Denver Metro BOMA established
a task force between members
and Denver city officials estab-
lishing an ADAWork Group,
which evolved into the current
BOMA/Denver Development
Services Workgroup that meets
quarterly to discuss a variety of
issues to building owners and
managers in Denver. Currently,
the group is working on the 2015
ICC code amendments with the
city.
Other advocacy and informa-
tion exchange activities held
during the year included contact
meetings with legislative, build-
ing and other public officials.
This was paramount to reinforc-
ing commercial real estate’s influ-
ence and importance as a local
and national economic driver.
As such, local BOMAmembers
advocated on behalf of building
owners on an international level
on issues such as leasehold depre-
ciation, tax credits for energy effi-
ciency retrofits and the renewal
of the TerrorismRisk Insurance
Act. Locally, through a well-orga-
nized intervention directed to
the Public Utilities Commission
in response to the Xcel Energy
steam rate case, members
were successful in curtailing a
proposed significant multiyear
increase. In addition, BOMA
forged a highly collaborative
working relationship with the
Denver Building and Fire depart-
ments. Members were able to
successfully assist with develop-
ing criteria for imposing elevator
and boiler inspection fees under a
new fee restructure proposed by
the Denver Fire Department. A
joint code compliance committee
was established between BOMA
and the Denver Building and
Fire departments to review pos-
sible 2015 model International
Code amendments and strategic
working relationships with other
local jurisdictions were formed.
Amedical office building
compliance seminar was held in
September to address the needs
of commercial real estate pro-
fessionals who specialize in all
aspects of managing and leasing
medical office buildings. Board
of director’s member Courtney
Hanfland with Catholic Health
Initiatives has been vital to the
success of this membership
growth initiative and in develop-
ing an understanding within
BOMA locally and internation-
ally on what’s important to inves-
tors of health care real estate.
Denver Metro BOMA places
great value in developing emerg-
ing professionals. One specific
educational highlight this year
was in support of local sustain-
able initiatives. BOMA’s allied
partners, Ampajen, McKinstry
and YR&G, developed an inno-
vative learning opportunity
whereby participants engaged in
a hands-on experiential training
exercise to facilitate obtaining
credit toward their LEED-
EBOM certification. This course
series, approved through BOMA
and the U.S. Green Building
Council, was conducted at the
History Colorado Center and was
noted as invaluable by program
participants.
Denver Metro BOMA contin-
ues to build its reputation by
promoting a high level of social
responsibility. The Community
Affairs Committee is a leader
in advocating on behalf of
Colorado’s most vulnerable chil-
dren and families. A longtime
supporter of Denver Children’s
Home and the Mount Saint
Vincent Home, BOMAmembers
have devoted hours of volunteer
time assisting these agencies
in the form of painting, clean-
ing, gardening and restoration
work-day events, and continue to
conduct one of the metropolitan
area’s largest holiday gift and toy
drive.
This year, BOMA takes great
pride in its successful delivery of
activities that have proved instru-
mental in driving value to own-
ers, protecting the environment
through operating efficiencies,
and promoting and preparing
its members for exceptional pro-
fessional development growth
opportunities. We have achieved
these goals through building a
trusted relationship with key
stakeholders and have improved
the financial performance of
the assets we manage. We will
continue to be a comprehensive
resource for the advancement of
the commercial real estate indus-
try through advocacy, knowl-
edge exchange and professional
development. We are “Leaders
Building Value.”
s
Sandrena
Robinson,
EMBA, LEED GA
Vice president, JLL,
Denver. Robinson
also is president
of Denver Metro
BOMA.
