Commercial Real Estate Market Sees Slow Start in 2012

The average vacancy rate for Class-A commercial office space in Fairfield County increased from 20.4 percent in the fourth quarter of 2011 to 21 percent in the first quarter of 2012, according to a report from commercial real estate firm Cushman & Wakefield.

According to the quarterly market report, and Stratford saw the largest increase in overall vacancy rates, each rising from 8.8 percent in the first quarter of 2011 to 13.6 percent in the first quarter of 2012.

In Shelton's case, the increase was in part due to 174,000 square feet of space that came on the market when .

As the vacancy rates have inched up, so too has the average rent per square foot: According to the report the average rate in Fairfield County increased from $35.74 per square foot in the first quarter of 2011 to $36.57 per square foot in the first quarter of 2012.

According to the report, Shelton was one of the only Fairfield County towns in the past year to see leases signed for spaces of more than 20,000 square feet. CDW Government reportedly leased 29,100 square foot space at Two Corporate Drive and Clayton Holdings leased a 23,366 square foot space at 100 Beard Saw Mill Road.

Despite the increase in vacancy rates, "the investment sales market showed definite signs of improvement this quarter, with sustained increases in sales activity expected for the remainder of 2012," the commercial real estate firm emphasized.

"After a flurry of transactions that closed in 2011, the first quarter of 2012 was very quiet," said Jim Fagan, senior managing director and market leader of Cushman & Wakefield’s Fairfield and Westchester County regions. "Despite the lack of leasing activity and the increase in vacancy, however, asking rents, particularly in quality buildings, rose this quarter, as tenants seem willing to pay a premium for tenancy in these buildings.”

Cushman & Wakefield's stated that Fairfield County vacancy rates were holding steady at around 21 percent.