Monday, February 21, 2011

Woolpert Celebrates 100 Years of Growth



ORLANDO, FL, Feb. 21, 2011-- In 2011, Woolpert is celebrating a major milestone: its 100th year in business. Established in 1911 as a surveying company, Woolpert has grown over the past 100 years to a fully integrated, multidisciplinary firm with more than 650 employees in 23 offices across the US.

(Company founder Ralph Woolpert top right photo)

“Not only have we been able to grow consistently throughout our 100-year history, we’ve been able to diversify our services and markets to remain a leader in the industry and sustain our business despite economic challenges,” said Mike Flannery (middle left photo), president and CEO.

“We are proud of our past, and we are confident we will continue to be successful well into the future, in large part because our employees embrace a century-old culture that encourages innovation, entrepreneurialism and thought leadership.”

As part of the 100-year celebration, Woolpert has launched an anniversary website and video to commemorate the past and look to the future. The firm has also updated its website, logo and brand to reflect its integrated approach to holistic project solutions above, on and beneath the earth’s surface.

Most recently, Woolpert acquired the Dallas operations of Bohannan Huston, a spatial data, mapping, civil engineering and advanced engineering technology services firm headquartered in New Mexico.

 This is the firm’s fourth acquisition in three years.  Woolpert locations in Florida include our Orlando office established in 2001 and our Miami office established in 1996.

Woolpert, ranked by Engineering News-Record as a top national design firm, provides professional design, geospatial and infrastructure services to clients in the public and private sectors.

Founded in 1911, Woolpert’s innovative design approach and commitment to the creative application of technology have grown the firm into a leader in the consulting industry.

 With nearly 650 professionals in 22 offices located throughout the U.S., Woolpert’s collaborative and multidisciplinary approach is driven by great people, great clients and great projects.

For more information on Woolpert, visit Woolpert’s website. To see how Woolpert has contributed to the advancement of the industry as the firm celebrates 100 years in business, visit the 100-year site. For insight on industry trends and emerging topics, visit our Thought Leaders blog.


Contact: Jocelyn Hodson, 4454 Idea Center Blvd., Dayton, OH 45430

Saturday, February 19, 2011

Mori Hosseini, Founder of ICI Homes to Speak at Entrepreneurs Lecture Series at Halifax Museum Feb. 26



DAYTONA BEACH, FL --- Mori Hosseini,(top right photo) chairman and chief executive officer of Florida based home builder ICI Homes, will present a lecture Saturday, Feb. 26 at the Halifax Historical Museum, 252 S. Beach St. in Daytona Beach.

Hosseini’s presentation is part of the Museum-organized lecture series “Entrepreneurial Dreams That Grew.”

Hosseini founded ICI Homes in 1980 and grew to become the largest residential home builder in Volusia County, expanding in Flagler, Brevard, Osceola, Orange, St. Johns, Nassau and Duval Counties.  More recently, ICI Homes established itself in Georgia, Tennessee and North Carolina.

ICI Homes consistently ranks among Builder magazine’s list of the top 100 builders in the nation.

Hosseini will be speaking at 10 a.m.

For more information about the Entrepreneurs Lecture Series at the Halifax Historical Museum, call Fayn LeVeille, Director 386-255 6976

For more information about this press release, contact:
Lisa A. Egle, Marketing Manager ICI Homes-Daytona Beach, 386-236-4273
Rosemary Messina, Vice President of Sales & Marketing, ICI Homes, 386-236-4231
Larry Vershel or Beth Payan, Larry Vershel Communications, 407-644-4142 

Chatham Lodging Trust Announces Fourth Quarter Results


 PALM BEACH, FL—Chatham Lodging Trust (NYSE: CLDT), a hotel real estate investment trust (REIT) focused on upscale extended-stay hotels and premium-branded select-service hotels, today announced results for the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2010.

Fourth Quarter 2010 Highlights

  • ·            Reported pro forma revenue per available room (RevPAR) for the fourth quarter of $83.19, an increase of 3.5 percent from the comparable period in 2009, assuming the company owned all 13 of its hotels for the entire fourth quarter.

  • Pro forma occupancy rose 2.7 percent to 73.1 percent and pro forma average daily rate (ADR) was up 0.7 percent to $113.76. Pro forma RevPAR reflects the adverse impact of rooms out of service at three hotels due to accelerated renovations
.
  • ·            Recorded gross operating profit (GOP) margins (hotel operating revenue less hotel operating expenses, before property taxes and insurance) of 40.2 percent for the fourth quarter, increasing 170 basis points over the fourth quarter 2009.
  •  
  • ·            Generated adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) of $3.4 million, adjusted funds from operations (FFO) of $2.2 million and adjusted FFO per diluted share of $0.24 based on shares outstanding in the fourth quarter.
  •  
  • ·            Trailing twelve month adjusted EBITDA yield of 9 percent and capitalization rate of 8 percent on 2010 net operating income for the 13 hotels owned at December 31, 2010.
  •  
  • ·            Declared a dividend of $0.175 per share.
  •  
  • ·            Invested $53 million to acquire two hotels comprising 269 rooms, bringing Chatham’s current hotel portfolio to 13 hotels and 1,650 rooms.
  •  
  • ·            Closed on $85 million secured revolving credit facility that can expand to $110 million.

“We continue to successfully execute our business plan, as evidenced by our acquisition pace and income yields, our conservative capital structure and healthy dividends, putting us well ahead of the expectations we set forth at the time of our IPO,” said Jeffrey H. Fisher (top right photo), Chatham’s chief executive officer and president.

 “We are very pleased with our results in 2010 with revenue and EBITDA exceeding our IPO expectations.  With the recent completion of our $74 million secondary offering, we are well positioned to deliver accretive acquisitions that will in turn drive incremental returns for our shareholders.”

Contact:
Dennis Craven (Company), Chief Financial Officer, (561) 227-1386,     
Jerry Daly or Carol McCune, Daly Gray (Media), (703) 435-6293
                                                           
                                                                       

New Faces at Grubb & Ellis

Todd Motoyoshi Joins as Senior Vice President, Office Group

 SAN FRANCISCO, CA) – Grubb & Ellis Company (NYSE: GBE), a leading real estate services and investment firm, today announced that Todd Motoyoshi (top right photo) has joined the company as senior vice president, Office Group, and will be a member of the company’s Tenant Advisory Group and Law Firm Practice Group.

 “We have significantly expanded our presence in the Bay Area over the past two years by recruiting highly seasoned professionals with versatile skill sets,” said Mark Geisreiter, executive vice president and regional managing director of Grubb & Ellis’ Bay Area Real Estate Services operations.

“Todd is an excellent addition to our office and I’m confident he will contribute to our growth.  He brings established relationships with many law firms and financial institutions throughout the region,”

 A 23-year veteran of commercial real estate, Motoyoshi joins Grubb & Ellis from Colliers International, where he was a senior vice president in the company’s Corporate Services Group.


James E. Morris, SIOR, and James B. Bohar Welcomed at Company’s New Oakland Office 

OAKLAND, CA – Grubb & Ellis Company (NYSE: GBE), a leading real estate services and investment firm, today announced that James E. Morris (middle  left photo), SIOR, and James B. Bohar (middle right photo)  have joined the company’s new Oakland office as vice presidents, Industrial Group.  They join Grubb & Ellis from Cushman & Wakefield. 

 “As we build our Oakland presence I could not be more pleased to have Jim Morris and Jim Bohar on board,” said Edward F. Del Beccaro, managing director of Grubb & Ellis’ East Bay offices.  “They bring considerable experience and a number of long-term client relationships in the region, which gives us a strong industrial platform from which to grow.”

 With more than 21 years of experience in commercial real estate, Morris joins Grubb & Ellis as a member of the company’s Global Logistics practice group.  He joins from the Oakland office of Cushman & Wakefield, where he was a senior director and managing broker. 

Bohar brings 28 years of commercial real estate and specializes in representing landlords and tenants in sale and lease transactions, as well as users and developers of industrial properties.

Grubb & Ellis Adds Project Management with Addition of Kenneth C. Huber as Senior Vice President

SAN JOSE, CA– Grubb & Ellis Company (NYSE: GBE), a leading real estate services and investment firm, today announced that it has added Project Management capabilities to its San Jose office with the addition of Kenneth C. Huber (lower left photo) as senior vice president, Project Management.  Huber will help with business development in the Silicon Valley as well as supplement the company’s project management efforts throughout the Bay Area. 

 “Ken has a long history in the construction industry and has developed a well-respected reputation,” said Dick Scott, managing director of Grubb & Ellis’ San Jose office.  “We are excited to be expanding our service capabilities.”

 Huber brings more than 35 years of experience in all phases of commercial and R&D facility projects, including expansions, alterations and projects with unique requirements or hard to meet time schedules.

Most recently, he spent six years as a site project manager with Benjamin R. Harvey Construction Company.

Grubb & Ellis Landauer Valuation Advisory Services Opens in San Diego with Kent J. Carpenter and Team

 SAN DIEGO, CA) – Grubb & Ellis Company (NYSE: GBE), a leading real estate services and investment firm, today announced that Kent J. Carpenter, MAI, a former principal of San Diego-based Lipman Stevens & Carpenter Inc., and his partners have joined Grubb & Ellis Landauer Valuation Advisory Services’ new San Diego office, effective immediately. 

 Carpenter joins as managing director of the new Grubb & Ellis Landauer office, which is one of 24 that have opened throughout the country over the past three months.  Also joining the company is Hilliard “Bill” Lipman, MAI, CRE, and Walter “Wally” J. Stevens, MAI, who join as executive vice presidents. 


Mike Merk Joins as Senior Vice President, Office Group

PHOENIX, AZ – Grubb & Ellis Company (NYSE: GBE), a leading real estate services and investment firm, today announced that Mike Merk (lower right photo) has joined the company as senior vice president, Office Group. 

“Mike is a solutions-driven commercial real estate professional with extensive corporate experience who will serve our clients well,” said Pete Bolton, executive vice president and managing director of Grubb & Ellis’ Phoenix office.  “He brings great relationships and an in-depth understanding of the brokerage business.  I am thrilled to welcome him to our Phoenix office.”

 Merk joins Grubb & Ellis from BAX Global Inc., where since 2002 he was the director of real estate responsible for the company’s 4.1 million-square-foot North American office and industrial portfolio.

 John Sechser Rejoins Company as Senior Vice President, Retail Group

WALNUT CREEK, CA – Grubb & Ellis Company (NYSE: GBE), a leading real estate services and investment firm, today announced that John Sechser (lower left photo) has rejoined the company’s Walnut Creek office as senior vice president, Retail Group. 

 “I am very happy to have John join Grubb & Ellis’ growing East Bay team and look forward to leveraging his experience, relationships and in-depth knowledge of the marketplace as we continue to expand and strengthen our presence in the local retail market,” said Edward F. Del Beccaro, managing director, Walnut Creek. 

Sechser is the latest professional to join the company’s growing Bay Area operations.  He returns to Grubb & Ellis after spending nearly 12 years with Colliers International, where he was a senior vice president and co-director of the company’s Walnut Creek Retail division.


William Robertson Joins as Senior Vice President, Project Management

LOS ANGELES, CA – Grubb & Ellis Company (NYSE: GBE), a leading real estate services and investment firm, today announced that William Robertson (lower right photo), LEED AP, has joined the company as senior vice president, Project Management.

 “William has earned an excellent reputation in the commercial real estate industry as a skilled project management professional,” said Larry Ebert, executive vice president, national head of Project Management.  “He has assisted a number of high-profile clients in planning and carrying out their real estate projects and I am very pleased he has joined us in Los Angeles.”

 With 15 years of experience, Robertson joins Grubb & Ellis from Studley Inc., where he spent five years as a director of Project Management, where he represented companies such as 20th Century Fox, Fox Interactive Media, Seyfarth Shaw LLP, AltaMed Health Services Corporation and Catholic Healthcare West.

Contact: Julia McCartney, Phone: 714.975.2230                                     


Beech Street Capital Gains HUD Approval for Map Lending


BETHESDA, MD –Beech Street Capital, LLC, a privately owned mortgage banking company, achieved another important milestone by receiving approval from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) as a Multifamily Accelerated Processing (MAP) lender, the company announced.

As a result, Beech Street can now provide its clients additional flexibility by offering financing backed by Federal Housing Administration (FHA) multifamily mortgage insurance. Beech Street is currently a Fannie Mae DUS® lender and a Freddie Mac Program Plus® Seller Servicer. The approval comes after the HUD recently announced more stringent financial requirements for MAP lenders.

 “HUD’s approval of our application as a MAP lender builds on our positive momentum at Beech Street, allowing us to offer our clients a more flexible range of financing options,” said Grace Huebscher (top right photo), president and CEO of Beech Street Capital.  “During our first year, we closed over $1 billion in financing with Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae.  This latest approval will help us reach our goal of more than doubling this volume in 2011.”

 FHA insures mortgages for new construction, substantial rehabilitation, purchase, or refinance of apartment properties among other purposes.  It provides insurance for loans with lower debt service coverage requirements, longer amortization, and lower rates than those available from other conventional funding sources.

 “Our team navigated the application process in record time,” said Jeff Lee, Beech Street’s executive vice president for credit.  “It’s an example of the kind of close collaboration and in-house expertise that enable us to get deals done quickly for our clients.”

 
Contact:  Jenifer Bernardi, jbernardi@beechstcap.com      

Friday, February 18, 2011

Concord Hospitality Enterprises Breaks Ground on LEED-Designed Property in


COLUMBUS, OH, Feb.  18, 2011—Officials of Concord Hospitality Enterprises, one of the nation’s top-ranked hotel developer/owner/operators, today announced the company has broken ground on a LEED-designed 136-suites SpringHill Suites by Marriott in Columbus, Ohio, in a joint venture with Continental Real Estate Companies.

 

(Top left photo is of SpringHill Suites by Marriott Columbus Airport Gahanna)

The property, located at 1421 Olentangy River Road, is slated to open in late summer 2011.

Meyers + Associates Architecture oversaw the property’s design and architecture.  Continental Building Systems is general contractor. 

“We continue to see opportunities for growth in the hotel sector, further diversifying our real estate portfolio,” said Frank Kass, Continental Real Estate Companies chairman.

 “This project appealed to us for a number of reasons, including its great location near the university in our headquarters city, its environmentally responsible construction and operation, and the ability to partner with one of the industry’s premier hoteliers.”

“With each LEED-designed property we add to our growing portfolio of hotels, we continue to use new technology and systems that reduce sustainability costs while optimizing energy savings and environmental impact,” said Mark G. Laport (middle right photo), president and CEO of Concord Hospitality.

 “We are constantly seeking ways to reduce costs and garner the highest returns these types of properties inherently offer.  We look forward to developing our relationship with Continental Real Estate Companies further on similar projects in the years to come.”

Near Interstate 670, the SpringHill Suites by Marriott is within walking distance of The Ohio State University.  The interior features OSU’s colors in custom décor to create a unique “Buckeye” experience.

 The four-story property offers a mix of oversized rooms that include a living room space and features king or double/queen suites.  There are two separate bathroom compartments: shower and vanity in one section and toilet and sink in the other. 

  For more information, visit http://www.concordhotels.com/
.
Contact: Patrick Daly, Account Executive, Daly Gray Public Relations,
Office:  (703) 435-6293, Cell:  (703) 300-8289, patrick@dalygray.com

Thursday, February 17, 2011

NAI Realvest Principal Robert Blackwell Achieves Elite Status with NAI Global


ORLANDO, FL – Robert Blackwell (top right photo), SIOR, principal at NAI Realvest has achieved the coveted Elite Status with NAI Global.  The award is given to NAI brokers who have closed a high level of commercial real estate transactions assigned among the 325 offices in the NAI Global worldwide system.

 Patrick Mahoney (middle left photo), president of NAI Realvest, said one of the transactions Blackwell closed was also one of the largest industrial lease deals in Central Florida last year. 

  Blackwell represented the tenant Pelliconi Group in a lease of an 87,000 square foot warehouse/manufacturing facility at Orlando Central Park South (lower right photo), where the landlord is Duke Realty.

 Pelliconi, based in Bologna Italy, is the largest bottle cap manufacturer in the world.  Rick Leighton with NAI Global in Princeton N.J. assigned the deal to Blackwell when Pelliconi identified Orlando as a potential location for its first U.S. cap manufacturing facility.

 Mahoney said another large transaction Blackwell closed in late 2010 also ranks as one of the largest industrial/flex deals of the year. 

ADT Security Services – a subsidiary of Tyco international – leased 47,000 square feet of flex space at Semoran CommerCenter on Shadowridge drive just north of Orlando International Airport. 

The landlord will build to suit over $1.5 million dollars of tenant improvements in one of the two new flex buildings leased at the center.


 “ADT chose this location because of its high parking ratio and the landlord’s ability to build out the space according to the tenant’s specific requirements,” Blackwell said.

 NAI Realvest is located at 2200 Lucien Way, Suite 350, Maitland, Fla.  For more information visit http://www.nairealvest.com/.
 
For more information about this press release, contact:  
Robert Blackwell, SIOR, NAI Realvest 407-875-9989, rblackwell@realvest.com
Patrick Mahoney, President NAI Realvest 407-875-9989, pmahoney@realvest.com
Larry Vershel Communications 407-644-4142, lvershelco@aol.com
  


ATLANTA, GA (Feb. 17, 2011) –Lincoln Property Co., one of the most respected and diversified service firms in the U.S., announced today that Chick-fil-A recently signed a 51,454-square-foot lease to expand at Airport-West Distribution Center (top left photo). This lease brings the project to 100 percent leased.

The building, owned by a Morgan Stanley affiliate, is located at 5295 Buffington Road in Atlanta and about 5 minutes from Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. The 287,560 square foot, two-building project was completed in 2002.

Denton Shamburger of Lincoln Property Co. represented the landlord in the transaction. Chick-fil-A has taken occupancy of its new space and with the expansion, now occupies over 103,000 square feet of Airport-West.

“The Chick-fil-A transaction is a testament to Airport-West Distribution Center’s ability to attract top corporate tenants,” Shamburger said.  In addition to Chick-fil-A, Airport West Distribution Center is the home to Bank of America, Cox Enterprises and PitneyBowes.

Lincoln Property Company currently leases and or manages 12 million square feet of commercial space in the Southeast Region.

Contact:  Laura Dudebout, (678) 642-4301


Jones Lang LaSalle Completes 19,674 SF Office Headquarters Relocation for the Center for Civic Education in Woodland Hills, CA

  
WOODLAND HILLS, CA, Feb. 17, 2011 — Jones Lang LaSalle represented the Center for Civic Education in a 19,674-square-foot lease at Warner Center Towers (top left photo), a 1.9-million-square-foot, Class-A office campus located in Woodland Hills, Calif.  The new space will be used for the company’s headquarters. 

Jones Lang LaSalle Vice President Dean Hawthorne and Managing Director Jim Lindvall represented the Center for Civic Education in the transaction.  The property owner, Douglas Emmett, was represented by Troy Pollett, David Solomon and Matt Heyn of CB Richard Ellis. 

“While the market is recovering, there is still great space – even sublease space – that can be found for well below market rates,” said Hawthorne.  “Jones Lang LaSalle was able to identify pristine space that required no improvements, further adding to the Center for Civic Education’s bottom line.”

The Center for Civic Education is an independent, non-profit organization based in California with a network of civic education programs in every state and congressional district in the country and in more than 80 emerging and advanced democracies throughout the world.

Contact:  Ebeling Communications, (p) 949.861.8351, (c) 949.278.7851

Marcus & Millichap Capital Corp. Arranges $4.2 Million Loan in Michigan


 DUNDEE, MI – Marcus & Millichap Capital Corporation (MMCC) has arranged a $4,284,000 credit-tenant lease (CTL) loan for the purchase of a 13,650-square foot Walgreens drugstore in Dundee.

Steven Wiltshire, an associate director in the firm’s Portland office, arranged the loan.

“In this transaction, MMCC sourced funds from bond investors for competitive leverage at 92 percent loan to value and a debt coverage ratio of 1.01,” says Wiltshire.

“The borrower is from Australia and not only were we able to qualify him, but due to our leverage, his down payment and loan cost amounted to less than 10 percent all in, which is a great return on his initial investment. CTLs are one of the safest investments in this market place,” adds Wiltshire.

The loan is for 23 years, amortized over 23 years with a fixed interest rate of 6.05 percent.

Press Contact: Stacey Corso, Marcus & Millichap Capital Corporation,
(925) 953-1716

Wednesday, February 16, 2011

Abacus Capital Group Sells $68 Million Northern California Multifamily Complex


PETALUMA, CA, – Less than a year-and-a-half after purchasing it, an investment fund advised by New York-based multifamily advisor Abacus Capital Group, in partnership with Los Angeles-based real estate private equity fund QVT Mount Auburn Capital LP, sold one of the largest apartment properties in Sonoma County for a significant gain.

 Last Friday, the firms closed on the sale of the Enclave at Adobe Creek (top left photo), a 492-unit property located in Petaluma for a sales price of $68 million. Abacus and QVT Mount Auburn purchased the property, formerly known as Lakeville Resort, in October 2009, for $52 million. 

According to Abacus Executive Vice President Greg Lyden, the investment is an excellent example of company’s “value-add” strategy it implements on behalf of its institutional investors.

“Abacus recognized that the property could be repositioned both physically and operationally to garner a greater share of the higher end of the market,” says Lyden.

Upon purchasing the property, the Abacus-led partnership immediately invested $2 million tackling deferred maintenance issues and re-branding the property with a series of strategic capital improvement programs.

 Abacus worked with its design team on to renovate the property’s clubhouse, amenities and select unit interiors. 


The new clubhouse included an upgraded fitness center, resident lounge, business center and a resort-style pool area with gas barbecues. The renovation also included a new tennis court and the introduction of a trash compactor to the property along with more energy efficient laundry facilities.

 “Our revenue this month was $980,000 (or nearly 17 percent) higher than the month we took over the property driven by higher rents and better collections.”


Lyden continues, "It is our philosophy to create value for our investors and then to harvest that value as quickly as possible. We think the Enclave is a great example of that investment philosophy in action."

Stan Jones (middle left photo)  and Phil Saglimbeni  (lower right photo) of Institutional Property Advisors (IPA), represented Abacus and QVT Mount Auburn in the Enclave sale. IPA also served as broker when the firms originally purchased the property.

Contacts:
Gregory Lyden, Phone: (212) 203-4962, Email: glyden@abacuscapitalgroup.com,
Stacey Corso, Phone: (925) 953-1716, Email: scorso@institutionalpropertyadvisors.com

Sandy Springs’ Serrano Condominium Achieves Record Sales

                                           
 ATLANTA, GA – The first five months of sales at Serrano (top left photo), the luxury condominiums at 901 Abernathy Road NE in Sandy Springs, have produced off-the-charts success.

 Seventy-seven of the 150 homes in the community are sold – that’s 51 percent of the one-, two- and three-bedroom condos, qualifying the building for Federal Housing Administration (FHA) financing.

 The homes sold for an average price of $142,605 over the five-month period from August 26, 2010 through the end of January 2011.  Serrano is one of six condominium communities launched by ST Residential last year.

 “Buyers are realizing this is the perfect economic climate to purchase,” says John Huckaby, ST Residential’s Regional Director in Atlanta.  “The economy has presented them with a unique opportunity and Serrano’s value-driven pricing and luxurious amenities are appealing to the savvy buyer.”

 Serrano buyers can now apply for FHA home loans.  FHA loans offer purchasers the most flexible down payment and qualifying guidelines.  Prospective homeowners can now purchase a condominium with as little as 3.5% down.  The building is also pre-approved for home loans by MetLife.

 Serrano is a five-story condominium community perfectly located off GA 400, extremely close to Perimeter Place and Perimeter Mall, and just a few minutes from Buckhead, Midtown and downtown Atlanta.  For those interested in a quick commute and easy access to Atlanta’s best shopping, dining, and entertainment, Serrano delivers.

 Serrano’s luxurious amenities feature a lush courtyard with swimming pool, outdoor grill and fireplace.  Residents have access to a clubroom with kitchen, a movie room, fitness center, pet walk and controlled-access parking.

The homes feature 13 different floor plans and include stainless steel appliances, granite countertops, crown molding, glass enclosed showers, soaking tubs, double vanities, designer lighting and fixtures, hardwood flooring in the living areas, and balconies.

 To learn more about the Serrano condominium community, buyers can call 404.645.7999 or visit http://www.serrano-atlanta.com/

Contact:  Liz Lapidus Public Relations. Liz Lapidus/Traci Buch, 404-688-1466

Tuesday, February 15, 2011

Colliers International Recruits Gregory J. Maradei to its Downtown Los Angeles Office



LOS ANGELES, CA – Colliers International, the second largest real estate services organization globally, has recruited Gregory J. Maradei (top right photo) to its Downtown Los Angeles office.

Maradei specializes in representing tenants in the Downtown Los Angeles office market and has represented major clients for 18 years. He will serve as vice president.

“Greg’s extensive business background combined with his experience working with corporate clients makes him a great resource and addition to our Greater Los Angeles region,” said Martin Pupil (middle left photo) regional managing director for Colliers’ Greater Los Angeles operations.

Maradei started his commercial real estate career in Downtown Los Angeles representing tenants in 1994. Since then, he has represented clients such as Texaco, Shell Oil Company, Deloitte and Touche, Marcus & Millichap Commercial Real Estate Company, and Insurance Services of America on lease negotiations and other transactions.

 “Greg offers unique experience that would benefit a wide spectrum of clients,” said Hans Mumper (lower right photo), managing director of Colliers DTLA office.

 Prior to his commercial real estate career, he was a United States Marine Corps Officer who served as a detachment commander in the Gulf War and a Xerox sales executive where he sold and implemented hardware and software solutions for clients including Boeing, Microsoft, Genie, and University of Washington.

 “Colliers has the strongest platform of services within a highly responsive and entrepreneurial culture,” said Maradei.

 Maradei received his B.A. from Old Dominion University. He also attended United States Marine Corps’ Officer Candidate School, and Marine Officer Basic School and Xerox University.

 Contact:
Angela S. Hwang
Regional Marketing Coordinator | Greater Los Angeles
Dir +1 213 532 3258 | Mob +1 310 867 4105
Main +1 213 627 1214 | Fax +1 213 327 3258

Colliers International
865 S Figueroa St., Suite 3500 | Los Angeles, CA 90017 | USA



HFF arranges $17.7 million financing for five-property northern Dallas industrial portfolio

  
DALLAS, TX – HFF announced today that it has arranged $17.7 million in financing for a five-property industrial portfolio totaling 667,702 square feet in northern Dallas.

HFF worked exclusively on behalf of Crow Holdings to secure the fixed-rate loan through MetLife Real Estate Investments.  Loan proceeds were used to acquire the properties.

The portfolio consists of multi-tenant office/warehouse and distribution facilities that are 92 percent leased to tenants including Xerox Corporation, Freed’s Furniture, Bunzl Distribution, Tohatsu America Corporation and All American Flooring. 

The properties included in the portfolio are:  2005 Valley View Lane, 4650-4654 Nall Road, 4700 Nall Road, 4720 Simonton Road and 4490 Alpha Road.

The HFF team representing Crow Holdings was led by managing director John Rose (top right photo). 

Crow Holdings has raised $3.0 billion of equity in real estate ventures since issuing the first of its five investment funds in 1998. 

Crow Holdings actively acquires existing properties and development parcels of all types both independently and with operating partners.

  Crow Holdings currently oversees a portfolio of existing assets and assets under development totaling over 8.8 million square feet of retail, office and industrial properties, approximately 7,000 multi-family units, more than 2,100 hotel rooms and approximately 2,000 acres of lot development through its real estate private equity funds.

Contacts:
John W. Rose, HFF Managing Director, (214) 265-0880,                                        jrose@hfflp.com
Kristen M. Murphy, HFF Associate Director, Marketing, (713) 852-3500,                                      

The Emmes Realty Services Completes 49,110-SF Lease with Jacobs at The Michelson in Irvine, CA



IRVINE, CA – EMMES Realty Services, an affiliate of the EMMES Group of Companies, a privately-owned real estate investment company, has completed a 10-year lease with Jacobs Engineering Group Inc. (Jacobs) 49,110 square feet of space at The Michelson (top left photo), a landmark 533,000-square-foot high rise office tower located at 3161 Michelson in Irvine, Calif. 

The new space will be used as the company’s regional Orange County office.

Eric Olofson and Rick Kaplan of Cushman & Wakefield represented Jacobs. EMMES Realty Services was represented by Robert Shibuya.

Located in the heart of Orange County at the southeast corner of Jamboree Road and the 405 Freeway,

The Michelson is a 19-story tower offering panoramic views of the Pacific Ocean, San Gabriel Mountains and Orange County skyline, and is currently more than 80 percent leased to several high profile tenants including Hyundai Capital America, Bryan Cave, Gibson Dunn, Greenberg Traurig Systems Source and Jones Day. 

Jacobs is one of the world's largest and most diverse providers of technical, professional, and construction services.

Since 1992, The EMMES Group of Companies on behalf of its affiliated entities, capital partners and investors, has acquired and managed more than 35 million square feet of retail, office, industrial and multifamily property types.

 The company's current portfolio includes encompasses nearly 10 million square feet located in 19 states. Learn more at www.emmesco.com.

Contact: David Ebeling, Ebeling Communications, (949) 278-7851,