CREJ

INSIDE byMichelle Z. Askeland As the situation rapidly evolves, man- aging properties during the COVID-19 outbreak is challenging. However, with the number of confirmed cases in Colo- rado increasing each day and Gov. Jared Polis predicting thousands more have it at his March 16 press conference, it seems safe to say it’s now a question of how the pandemic is impacting your assets, not if it will. For weeks, we’ve been advised about some of the basic tenets of fighting the spread:Wash your hands for 20 seconds, don’t touch your face, don’t go into work if you’re sick or have been exposed to the virus, practice social dis- tancing, etc. The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment issued further guidelines in public health orders to close bars, restaurants, gyms, theaters, casinos and salons/spas until April 30 to slow the spread. Restaurant take-out and delivery service still is allowed.The CDPH also is following the Center for Disease Control and Prevention guide- lines to cancel or postpone in-person events that consist of 50 people or more for the next eight weeks. On March 16, the CDC also advised older people to “stay home and away from other people,” for everyone to work from home whenever possible, avoid social gathering of groups of 10 of more, and avoid discretionary travel, shopping trips and social visits. Taking it further, right before print, Denver Mayor Michael Hancock issued a "stay at home" order for all Denver residents.While there are exemptions for "essential" businesses, the impacts will be far reaching. Personnel essential to the safe operation of buildings, including managers, engineers, technicians, plumbers, electricians and janitorial staff are covered for travel under the order, Denver Metro BOMA con- firmed with the Mayor’s office. These guidelines impact just about every commercial real estate asset class. So, for building managers of assets that aren’t fully shut down, what should you be doing? One of the best places for guidelines specifically geared to property manage- ment is the Building Owners and Man- agers Association International, which has a resource center dedicated to the pandemic on its website, boma.org/ coronavirus.The association produced Legal issues for building owners and managers during the COVID-19 pandemic Legal considerations Colorado and Denver’s green lease policies offer shared incentives for landlords and tenants Denver’s green leasing PAGE 8 Keys to success for managing tenant improvement projects in occupied spaces Project management Please see Page 22 April 2020 PAGE 15 PAGE 6 Manager guidelines for dealing with a pandemic The Building Owners and Managers Association International, Apartment Association of Metro Denver and others are providing guidelines for asset managers dealing with the coronavirus pandemic.