Thursday, January 24, 2013

Easton & Associates Beefs Up Brokerage Team in Response to Positive Shift in the Market



Edward W. Easton
DORAL, FL --  Easton & Associates, the commercial real estate brokerage division of The Easton Group, is expanding its brokerage team in response to improving  conditions in the local commercial real estate market.   The firm has hired three new sales associates over the past two months.

Easton & Associates specializes in leasing and sales of industrial/warehouse properties in the west Miami-Dade submarket. The latest associates to join the brokerage team are Alex Beach and Jeremy Myers.

Alex Beach specializes in landlord and tenant representation in the west Miami-Dade market, handling both leases and sales.  Prior to joining Easton & Associates, he was an associate with Foster & Clark Real Estate, closing several transactions throughout the Miami area.  Beach earned his bachelor’s degree from Johnson & Wales University.  He is an 11 year resident of South Florida.

Alex Beach
Jeremy Myers also specializes in landlord and tenant representation, both sales and leases, in the west Doral / Medley sub market. Prior to joining Easton & Associates, he was an intern with SAC Capital Advisors in New York, NY.  Myers earned his bachelor’s degree in communications from Villanova University.

“With the economy improving and with historically low interest rates available, we see the potential for a lot more activity, on both the owner and tenant side, and we are positioning ourselves to take advantage of the changes,” said Edward W. Easton, chairman and founder of The Easton Group.

Easton & Associates’ hiring trend began in the fourth quarter of 2012 when it added David Olalde as a sales associate.

.For a complete copy of the company’s news release, please contact:

Lauren Odom
Account Executive
Boardroom Communications
Office: 954.370.8999
Cell: 828.713.4690


Cuhaci & Peterson Architects design two Aldi Supermarkets in Central Florida



ORLANDO, FL – Cuhaci & Peterson Architects, Engineers, Planners, based in Orlando’s Baldwin Park, recently completed design work on two Aldi Supermarkets that will be opening in the first quarter of this year. 

 Lonnie Peterson, chairman at Cuhaci & Peterson, said the two stores are 18,000 square feet each, and are nearing completion.   

 One Aldi supermarket is located at 1300 E. Semoran Blvd. in Apopka and the other grocery store is located in Winter Haven on U.S. 17 and Avenue K.

 For more information, contact  

 Lonnie Peterson, Chairman Cuhaci & Peterson Architects, LLC, 407-661-9100;  
Jed Downs, President Cuhaci & Peterson Architects, LLC, 407-661-9100;  
Larry Vershel or Beth Payan, Larry Vershel Communications, Inc. 407-644-4142, lvershelco@aol.com   



NAI Realvest Negotiates Two New Leases for Office Space at Winter Park Commerce Center in Winter Park, FL



Winter Park Commerce Center
Winter Park, FL
ORLANDO, FL– NAI Realvest recently completed two new lease agreements totaling 4,325 square feet of office space at the Winter Park Commerce Center near downtown Winter Park. 

 Michael Heidrich, principal at NAI Realvest brokered both transactions representing the landlord, Winter Park-based WFI, LLP. 

Michael Heidrich
A local massage therapy firm, Gifted Touch, LLC, is the new tenant who leased 2,490 square feet at 917 N. Pennsylvania Ave.    Daly Design Group, Inc. of Winter Park leased 1,835 square feet at 913 N. Pennsylvania Ave. 

For more information, contact:  

Michael Heidrich, NAI Realvest 407-875-9989 or mheidrich@realvest.com;  
Patrick Mahoney, President, NAI Realvest 407-875-9989 pmahoney@realvest.com;  
Beth Payan, Larry Vershel Communications 407-644-4142 lvershelco@aol.com    



Hendricks & Partners (Now Hendricks-Berkadia) negotiated Sale of The Willows Apartments in Birmingham, AL for $5.2 Million



The Willows apartments
Birmingham, AL
BIRMINGHAM, AL --- Hendricks & Partners, one of the nation’s largest and most active multifamily investment banking and research companies recently renamed to Hendricks-Berkadia, negotiated the sale of The Willows, a 170-unit apartment community located in Birmingham, for $5.2 million.

David Oakley, senior investment advisor of the Hendricks-Berkadia Alabama office negotiated the sale representing the seller, Willows Partners, LLC, an Alabama limited liability company, based in Birmingham.

David Oakley

The Willows, constructed in 1973 and renovated in 2011, has a total of 133,600 square feet of rentable living space with studio, one, two and three-bedroom apartments.

The buyer was Willow United LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, based out of Florida.

For more information, contact:

David Oakley, Senior Investment Advisor, Hendricks-Berkadia/Alabama, 205.918.0785, doakley@hpapts.com
Larry Vershel or Beth Payan, Larry Vershel Communications 407-644-4142 lvershelco@aol.com.







Church Selects Master Developer for Back Bay Sites in Boston



Coleman Benedict
 Boston, MA – The First Church of Christ, Scientist, announced it has selected Carpenter & Company, Inc. as the master developer for two development sites adjacent to the 14.8-acre Christian Science Plaza in Boston’s Back Bay.

 The parcels are part of the master plan designed to revitalize the Plaza and enliven its open space, which was approved by the Boston Redevelopment Authority (BRA) after a comprehensive review process characterized by extensive public input. 

The competitive process leading to the selection of Carpenter was facilitated by an HFF team led by Coleman Benedict

For a complete copy of the company’s news release, please contact:

Justine Griffin
 617.391.9638

Kristen M. Murphy
Associate Director
HFF | 9 Greenway Plaza, Suite 700 | Houston, TX 77046
tel 713.852.3500 | cel 617.543.4873 | fax 713.527.8725 | www.hfflp.com

HFF secures $61.6 million in construction and mezzanine financing for Scottsdale, AZ multi-housing project



Jefferson at One Scottsdale Apartments
Scottsdale, AZ
IRVINE, CA – HFF announced it has arranged $61.6 million in construction and mezzanine financing for Jefferson at One Scottsdale, a 388-unit, Class A luxury multi-housing community to-be-built in Scottsdale, Arizona.

                HFF worked exclusively on behalf of TDI Real Estate to assist TDI in arranging a construction loan through Texas Capital Bank and The PrivateBank, and mezzanine financing from Behringer Harvard.

Mark Erland
                Jefferson at One Scottsdale is situated within the One Scottsdale mixed-use development at the intersection of North Scottsdale Road and East Thompson Peak Parkway, adjacent to Grayhawk in North Scottsdale.

Due for completion in 2014, the property will offer one-, two- and three-bedroom floorplans averaging 935 949 square feet each.

 Community amenities will include a clubhouse, lounge, media room, business center, two swimming pools/spas and both direct and non-direct garages. 

Charles Halladay
The HFF team representing TDI Real Estate was led by Sean Deasy and directors Mark Erland and Charles Halladay.

“Jefferson at One Scottsdale will be the premier Class A multi-housing project in North Scottsdale given the use of high quality materials, superior architecture, ample parking including garages, and proximity to high quality retail and employment,” said Erland.

  “HFF and TDI were able to secure construction debt and mezzanine financing that recognized the quality of the sponsorship, location, project design, and improving Phoenix MSA market fundamentals highlighted by more than 40,000 new jobs over the past 12 months.”

For a complete copy of the company’s news release, please contact:

Kristen M. Murphy
Associate Director
HFF | 9 Greenway Plaza, Suite 700 | Houston, TX 77046
tel 713.852.3500 | cel 617.543.4873 | fax 713.527.8725 | www.hfflp.com

HFF arranges $40 million financing for Rancho Cucamonga, CA multi-housing community



Santa Barbara Apartments
Rancho Cucamonga, CA
IRVINE, CA – HFF announced  it has arranged $40 million in financing for Santa Barbara Apartments, a newly-constructed, 192-unit multi-housing community in Rancho Cucamonga, California.

                HFF worked on behalf of the borrower, Lewis Operating Corp., to secure the 15-year, forward, fixed-rate permanent loan through Prudential Mortgage Capital Company.

                Santa Barbara Apartments is located at 10855 Church Street close to Interstates 10, 15 and 210, and the Ontario International Airport in Rancho Cucamonga, about 40 miles east of Los Angeles.  Completed in 2012, the property has 25 residential buildings and is 95 percent leased.

Don Curtis
 The HFF team representing Lewis Operating Company was led by senior managing director Don Curtis.

Since 1955, the Lewis Operating Corp. has developed more than 56,000 homes, 10,000 apartments and 14 million square feet of retail, office and industrial space throughout the United States.

For a complete copy of the company’s news release, please contact:

Kristen M. Murphy
Associate Director
HFF | 9 Greenway Plaza, Suite 700 | Houston, TX 77046
tel 713.852.3500 | cel 617.543.4873 | fax 713.527.8725 | www.hfflp.com

HFF expands Florida capital markets group


Marty Busekrus
MIAMI, FL – HFF announced it has expanded its Miami, Orlando and Tampa capital markets teams with the addition of Marty Busekrus as a director in its Miami office and Zach Nolan as a real estate analyst in its Tampa office.

                Marty Busekrus will focus on industrial investment sales throughout the southeastern United States.  He joins HFF from CBRE where he was a senior sales associate in their private capital group.  Mr. Busekrus received his Master’s degree from Webster University and his Bachelor of Arts degree from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale.

Zach Nolan
 Zach Nolan, a recent graduate of Stanford University, joins HFF Tampa as a real estate analyst.  Mr. Nolan interned at RJS Realty Group, Pollock Financial Group and Bank of America Merrill Lynch.  He holds a Master of Science degree and a Bachelor of Arts degree from Stanford University.
           
  For a complete copy of the company’s news release, please contact:

Kristen M. Murphy
Associate Director
HFF | 9 Greenway Plaza, Suite 700 | Houston, TX 77046
tel 713.852.3500 | cel 617.543.4873 | fax 713.527.8725 | www.hfflp.com

HFF arranges $33 million refinancing for Shops at Arbor Trails in Austin, TX



Shops at Arbor Trails, Austin, TX
AUSTIN, TX – HFF announced today that it has arranged a $33 million refinancing for the Shops at Arbor Trails, a 357,168-square-foot grocery-anchored retail center in Austin, Texas. 

HFF worked on behalf of Christopher Commercial, Inc. to secure the seven-year, 3.07 percent, fixed-rate loan through Principal Real Estate Investors.

The Shops at Arbor Trails is located at the intersection of 4301 West William Cannon Drive and South Mopac Expressway in southwest Austin.  

Douglas Opalka
Completed in 2010, the property is fully leased and anchored by Whole Foods Market.  Other tenants include Costco, Havertys Furniture and Staples.

The HFF team representing the borrower was led by senior managing director Doug Opalka and real estate analyst Patrick McCord.  This is the second transaction HFF’s Austin office has completed on behalf of the borrower since December 2012.

We simply could not be more pleased with the quality of work performed not only by Doug and Patrick but all of the folks over at HFF during the past few months.  They have been on top of our deals from day one and we always were made to feel like we were their only client,” commented Daniel P. Myrick, vice president and general counsel at Christopher Commercial.

Christopher Commercial is a locally-run, family company that owns and operates retail shopping centers in Austin, Texas.

For a complete copy of the company’s news release, please contact:

Kristen M. Murphy
Associate Director
HFF | 9 Greenway Plaza, Suite 700 | Houston, TX 77046
tel 713.852.3500 | cel 617.543.4873 | fax 713.527.8725 | www.hfflp.com

HFF Chicago hires Christopher Carroll as managing director



Christopher Carroll
CHICAGO, IL – HFF announced that Christopher Carroll has joined the firm as a managing director in its Chicago office to focus on debt placement transactions in the Midwestern United States.

Mr. Carroll has more than 20 years of experience in commercial real estate finance and most recently served as a managing director for Cohen Financial where he led a team of six capital markets professionals. 

  He is a full member of ULI, NAIOP and the University of Wisconsin Real Estate Alumni Association and is the immediate past president of the Realty Club of Chicago.  Mr. Carroll holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Michael Kavanau
“Chris is widely regarded as one of the top mortgage bankers in the Midwest and he will be an invaluable resource in terms of expanding HFF’s debt placement platform and providing value to our clients in the Midwest and beyond,” said Michael Kavanau, co-head of HFF’s Chicago office.

For a complete copy of the company’s news release, please contact:

Kristen M. Murphy
Associate Director
HFF | 9 Greenway Plaza, Suite 700 | Houston, TX 77046
tel 713.852.3500 | cel 617.543.4873 | fax 713.527.8725 | www.hfflp.com

HFF named to market for sale Marriott Pittsburgh North



Mark Popovich
PITTSBURGH, PA – HFF announced today that it has been named to market for sale the Marriott Pittsburgh North, a 295-room, full-service hotel in northern Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

                HFF is marketing the asset exclusively on behalf of the seller, Winegardner & Hammons, Inc. and Eagle Realty Group, Inc.  The property is currently unencumbered with debt.

                The HFF team representing the seller is led by senior managing directors Mark Popovich and Daniel Peek and director Max Comess.

                The Marriott Pittsburgh North is located at 100 Cranberry Woods Drive near the Interstate 79 and Pennsylvania Turnpike (I-76) interchange about 20 miles north of downtown Pittsburgh.  

The property was completed in 2003 and in addition to guest rooms features 14,905 square feet of meeting space, the River City Grille & Lounge, an indoor pool, fitness center, business center and sundry shop.

Max Comess
Winegardner & Hammons, Inc. has more than 50 years as a full-service hotel management company with a reputation for progressive and successful hospitality management.  

The WHI owned/managed portfolio includes resorts, all-suite, extended-stay, full service and conference center hotels in many diverse markets across the United States. 

 WHI currently manages 30 hotels in the United States and is affiliated with most major hotel brands including Marriott, Hilton and Intercontinental Hotel brands.  WHI has been a recipient of Marriott International’s Partnership Circle Award for 13 consecutive years.  For more information on WHI, please visit www.whihotels.com.

For a complete copy of the company’s news release, please contact:

Kristen M. Murphy
Associate Director
HFF | 9 Greenway Plaza, Suite 700 | Houston, TX 77046
tel 713.852.3500 | cel 617.543.4873 | fax 713.527.8725 | www.hfflp.com