Investment Matters: Flair for Open-Air Centers

On January 1, 2026, Jim Taylor will officially retire asCEO of Brixmor Property Group. In this conversation, recorded before his retirement was announced this fall, Taylor reflects on his long and eclectic journey in the industry. Over the past couple of decades, he’s traveled what he jokinglydescribes as “a checkered path” that ultimately led to the C-suite at Brixmor. Before becoming a real estate executive, he was anaccountant, earned a law degree and worked as an investment banker. Taylor’s service to the industry also includes leadership roles in several industryorganizations.  He’s been a member of Nareit’sexecutive board and he was the 2024 chairman of ICSC. During his decade as Brixmor’s CEO, Jim Taylor has overseenan extensive program of reinvestment in the REIT’s 63-property, 354 million-square feet portfolio of open-air centers. As of the third quarter this year, Brixmor’s pipeline of property upgrades encompassed 375 million dollars’worth of enhancements across 35 properties. In this conversation, Taylor discusses the factors that aredriving growth for open-air centers, how the capital markets view the asset category, Brixmor’s strategy of reinvestment and more. Take a listen.Episode highlights:·    (1:47) A “checkered path” to the REIT C-suite·    (4:44) The No. 1 factor in company success·    (6:01) Topline trends in open-air centers·    (7:27) Inside Brixmor’s investment strategy·    (9:43) Adding value: works in progress·    (11:37) Disciplined capital allocation·    (13:00) Creating critical portfolio mass·    (14:44) An “unprecedented breadth” of tenantdemand·    (16:18) Why it’s competitive out there foracquisitions·   (18:37) Lenders open the gates·   (19:29) Growth trajectory: 2026 and beyond