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| National Association of Shopping Centers | |
|---|---|
| Name | National Association of Shopping Centers |
| Formation | 1957 |
| Headquarters | United States |
| Type | Trade association |
National Association of Shopping Centers is a trade association representing owners, developers, investors, retailers, and professionals in the shopping center and retail real estate industry. Founded in 1957 amid postwar suburbanization and the rise of the Shopping mall model, the organization has operated alongside institutions such as the International Council of Shopping Centers, Urban Land Institute, National Retail Federation, and American Planning Association to shape development, investment, and leasing practices. The association interacts with federal agencies like the Department of Housing and Urban Development, state legislatures such as the California State Legislature and New York State Legislature, and city governments including New York City, Los Angeles, and Chicago on matters affecting retail real estate.
The association was established in the context of mid-20th century trends that included the growth of Suburbanization in the United States, the expansion of Interstate Highway System, the proliferation of Shopping mall chains, and the evolution of retail formats exemplified by companies like Sears, Roebuck and Company, Montgomery Ward, and later Walmart. Early decades saw interactions with financial institutions such as the Federal Reserve System and the Securities and Exchange Commission as shopping center financing shifted toward commercial mortgage-backed securities and real estate investment trusts like Simon Property Group and Vornado Realty Trust. In subsequent decades the association responded to transformations driven by e-commerce platforms including Amazon (company), retail bankruptcies such as Toys "R" Us bankruptcy (2017), and urban redevelopment projects in municipalities such as Houston, Atlanta, and San Francisco.
The association's governance framework includes boards and committees analogous to structures used by entities like the Chamber of Commerce of the United States, the National Association of Realtors, and the American Institute of Architects. Executive leadership interacts with consulting firms and law practices that operate in realms overseen by the Internal Revenue Service, the Department of Labor, and state regulatory agencies. Regional councils coordinate with metropolitan planning organizations active in regions such as Greater Boston, Twin Cities (Minneapolis–Saint Paul), and the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex, while affiliate offices liaise with trade publications like The Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg L.P., and Forbes (magazine).
Membership comprises a broad cross-section of industry participants including developers such as Taubman Centers, property managers like CBRE Group, Inc., institutional investors including Blackstone, Inc., and retail tenants ranging from Target Corporation to specialty operators. The association offers services similar to those provided by the American Marketing Association and Project Management Institute: continuing education, credentialing, model lease forms, market data, and networking that link members to capital sources such as JPMorgan Chase, law firms, and accounting firms like Deloitte. Professional designations and training programs intersect with standards promulgated by groups like the International Facility Management Association.
Flagship events mirror the scale of conventions organized by entities such as CES, National Retail Federation's Big Show, and Istanbul Shopping Fest. Annual conferences convene retailers, investors, and public officials from cities including Las Vegas, Orlando, Florida, and Miami and feature keynote speakers drawn from corporations like Apple Inc., Nike, Inc., and Starbucks Corporation as well as panels including representatives from the Federal Transit Administration and the Environmental Protection Agency. Regional symposiums and trade shows showcase technologies from firms such as Zebra Technologies, Adobe Inc., and Salesforce and provide forums akin to those of SXSW and World Economic Forum satellite events.
The association engages in advocacy similar to lobbying done by groups like the National Restaurant Association and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, addressing legislative and regulatory issues before bodies such as the United States Congress, the Federal Communications Commission, and state regulatory commissions. Policy priorities have included zoning and land-use decisions involving local planning boards in municipalities like Phoenix, Arizona and Charlotte, North Carolina, tax policy debates interacting with the Internal Revenue Code, and infrastructure funding tied to programs like the Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) grant program. The organization files amicus briefs in cases before courts including the United States Supreme Court and state supreme courts, and collaborates with coalitions that include the Real Estate Roundtable and the Mortgage Bankers Association.
The association produces market research, benchmarking reports, and compendia comparable to publications by the Urban Land Institute, the National Bureau of Economic Research, and CoStar Group. Reports track retail sales trends influenced by entities such as Visa Inc., Mastercard, and Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis statistics, and analyze performance metrics tied to mall operators like Macerich and Brookfield Properties. The organization disseminates guidance on topics such as adaptive reuse projects in partnership with academic centers like Harvard Graduate School of Design, policy briefs referencing data from the U.S. Census Bureau, and white papers on consumer behavior drawing on surveys conducted with firms like Nielsen Holdings.
Critiques directed at the association reflect broader debates seen in controversies involving Big-box store controversies, retail displacement issues in cities such as Detroit and Baltimore, and disputes over tax incentives similar to controversies around Amazon HQ2. Critics, including community groups active in neighborhoods like Oakland, California and Bronx, New York, have challenged positions on zoning, public subsidies, and labor practices, sometimes aligning with advocacy organizations such as Fight for $15 and National Employment Law Project. Legal challenges have cited environmental reviews under statutes like the National Environmental Policy Act and local historic preservation cases involving commissions in places like Savannah, Georgia.
Category:Trade associations based in the United States