Patrick Sisson

Patrick Sisson is a contributor to Commercial Observer. A Chicago expat living in Los Angeles, he writes about real estate, development, urbanism, technology and the forces that shape our cities.

People pose for photos beneath the Hollywood sign in Los Angeles.
Industrial · Leases
California

Billion-Dollar Blockbusters Won’t Revive L.A.’s Film Industry

By Patrick Sisson
People shop in the Santee Alley area of the Fashion District in Los Angeles.
Retail · Leases
California

In Los Angeles Retail, a Widening Divide

By Patrick Sisson
TOPSHOT - An investor reacts as he monitors the share index at a private stock market gallery in Kuala Lumpur on September 18, 2008. Share prices on Bursa Malaysia were broadly lower at mid-day amid a global sell-off triggered by growing concerns over the extent of the United States credit crunch and domestic political uncertainties, dealers said.
Industry · Finance
National

Commercial Mortgage-Backed Securities Distress Is Peaking — Again

By Patrick Sisson
Contractors working for KPC begin power washing and removing graffiti off the Oceanwide Plaza during a test run of graffiti removal in Downtown Los Angeles on July 22.
Residential · Finance
California

KPC Group’s Oceanwide Plaza Bet Started With a Supertall Dream for Manhattan

By Patrick Sisson
Mortars are seen at General Dynamics plant.
Industrial · Leases
California

For Southern California, Defense Tech Is the Best Real Estate Offense

By Patrick Sisson
A shipping container is loaded at the Port of Los Angeles.
Industrial · Leases
California

Shifting Fortunes for L.A.’s Ports Boost Surrounding Industrial Real Estate

By Patrick Sisson
A firefighter walks down the street as a massive warehouse fire at a Lineage cold storage facility burns on June 20 in Los Angeles.
Industrial · Development
California

Too Big to Burn: L.A. Takes Harder Look at Megawarehouses After Cold Storage Fire

By Patrick Sisson
Los Angeles City Councilwoman and mayoral candidate Nithya Raman makes a campaign stop at an empty lot in the Palisades Fire zone.
Residential · Development
California

Can Nithya Raman Make L.A. a City of Yes?

By Patrick Sisson
A view of the so-called Graffiti Towers, where graffiti writers tagged 40 floors of an unfinished luxury skyscraper development in March 2024 in Los Angeles, California. Construction of the $1 billion Oceanwide Plaza luxury real estate development stalled in 2019 after a China-based developer ran out of funding, leaving the three-tower project unfinished amid a housing crisis in the city. The project is located across the street from the Crypto.com Arena.
Residential · Finance
California

Oceanwide Plaza Sale Set to Advance After L.A. Drops Objections

By Patrick Sisson
A woman passes by Vista Terrace, a 102-unit, affordable and supportive housing apartment complex on Van Nuys Boulevard in Los Angeles.
Residential · Investments & Sales
California

Los Angeles’ Moribund Multifamily Market Shows Signs of Life

By Patrick Sisson
A rendering of the planned Fourth and Central project in Downtown Los Angeles.
Residential · Development
California

Can One Giant Project Change the Narrative Around Downtown Los Angeles?

By Patrick Sisson
Players for Spain head out for the second half of a FIFA World Cup Round Of 32 match against Austria at Los Angeles Stadium.
Industry · Development
California

Big Events Like the World Cup and the Olympics Are Reshaping Los Angeles

By Patrick Sisson
An illustration of a blue owl flying and carrying a pair of servers from a data center.
Industrial · Capital Markets
National

Once Down, Blue Owl Finds Its Wings Again

By Patrick Sisson
Pedestrians pass an HBO Max logo under a metro rail station in Culver City, Calif.
Residential · Development
California

Culver City’s Housing Strategy: Don’t Be L.A.

By Patrick Sisson
An illustration of percent signs embedded in containers in container stack.
Industrial · Features
National

Industrial Real Estate Has Entered Its Fixer-Upper Phase

By Patrick Sisson
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass (left), Councilmember Nithya Raman (center), and Spencer Pratt.
Residential · Development
California

In L.A. Mayor’s Race, Housing Frustrations Take Center Stage

By Patrick Sisson
The historic 55-acre, 40-acre Radford Studio Center, formerly the CBS Studio Center. The studio was built in 1928 and was the site of famous TV shows such as Seinfeld, The Mary Tyler Moore Show and Gilligans Island.
Industrial · Leases
California

Hollywood’s Production Slump Hitting L.A. Studio Owners

By Patrick Sisson