Saturday, February 15, 2020

Luke Skywalker’s Hidden Hills Home in Los Angeles Up for Sale at $26.5 Million


Luke Skywalker's Home, Hidden Hills, Los Angeles, CA

Photo credit: The Agency             Source: www.theagencyre.com

HIDDEN HILLS, LOS ANGELES, CA --If you’ve ever wondered where Luke Skywalker, Chewbacca and their cronies hang out between making Star Wars films, look no further than the out-of-this-world home in a gated Los Angeles Hidden Hills neighborhood that is now for sale.

For decades, Hidden Hills has been a secure celebrity-rich enclave for those wishing to hold the paparazzi at bay.

Luke Skywalker
However, little did anyone know that it was also home to the Star Wars cast of characters, who live in the 5,000-square-foot basement of an 18,183-square-foot contemporary Craftsman home.

Now with their hideout finally discovered and no longer a well-kept secret, it has just been put on the market, priced at $26.5 million.

Though coy about releasing its secrets all at once, entering the home’s open foyer with glimpses of the two-story ceiling in the formal living room with large stone fireplace and tall windows, hints to its overall drama.
 Spread over three private acres, the exterior is perfect for any earth dweller or space visitor with its indoor-outdoor swimming pool with waterfall, slide and grotto, and the spa and tennis court all nestled among mature landscaping.


Chewbacca
 Considering visitors from far-away galaxies have used it as their home away from home, it’s only fitting that on the hill on the back of the property there is a stargazing observatory with a powerful rotating telescope to make Luke’s guests feel right at home.
Filled with all conceivable amenities for gracious living and entertaining, the home is, of course, eco-friendly through the use of solar power with propane generator backup and the grounds produce a large variety of fruit and organic herbs, according to TopTenRealEstateDeals.com.
The chef’s kitchen with its two large islands has the capacity to prep for a crowd or an intimate family meal.

Arvin Haddad
 In addition to formal and family rooms, there is a fitness center, wine room, massage room, indoor heated pool, a 750-gallon aquarium with tropical fish, a professional recording studio and a six-car garage. But wait for it . . 
The basement. The home of Luke Skywalker and friends. Have a drink with them at the bar then feel the motion of the Star Wars films right in your seat while becoming a part of it on the 19-foot screen. . . all the while surrounded by a multi-million dollar Star Wars prop and collectible collection.
The stunning Hidden Hills estate that has been harboring a galactic secret is now for sale to any earthling with $26.5 million.
The listing agents are Arvin Haddad, Emil Hartoonian and Mauricio Umansky of The Agency, Beverly Hills.

CONTACT:

Genelle C. Brown
Content Manager, Media Division
TopTenRealEstateDeals.com
Phone:  434-480-4504

Twitter:  @toptenrealestat
facebook.com/toptenrealestat  

Peachtree Hotel Group (PHG) and Stonehill Promote Brent LeBlanc to Executive Vice-President of Business Development


Brent LeBlanc 

ATLANTA, GA—Officials of Peachtree Hotel Group (PHG), one of the nation’s fastest growing hotel investment and management platforms, and its lending platform, Stonehill, announced the promotion of Brent LeBlanc to executive vice-president of business development.

“With more than a quarter century of hospitality experience, including franchise development, real estate and lending, Brent has proven to be the leader we were looking for when we brought him on board in 2012,” said Greg Friedman, managing principal and chief executive officer, Peachtree Hotel Group.

Greg Friedman

  “He has been instrumental in our substantial growth for both our real estate and lending platforms.  Brent will continue to be a key part of our senior team well into the future.”

“Brent has had great success transitioning from a franchise development executive into the real estate and lending sides of the hospitality business,” said Matt Crosswy, president and principal, Stonehill.  “We attribute these achievements to his stellar work ethic and unique ability to form authentic and deep relationships across the industry.”

Prior to joining Peachtree in 2012, LeBlanc was vice-president of development for the former Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, where he was responsible for the successful launch of aloft by W Hotels and Element by Westin.  

While there he drove growth within the Westin, Sheraton, Luxury Collection, Le Meridian and Four Points brands across a 20-state area.  He also held similar positions with La Quinta Corporation and US Franchise Systems, Inc.  He received his B.A. in marketing from Southeastern Louisiana University.

“It is great to be recognized with the promotion to executive vice president,” LeBlanc said. 

Matt Crosswy
 “The Peachtree - Stonehill leadership team have put together an incredible line-up that is primed for growth well into the future. I have learned so much over the last eight years and have transformed my skill set into something I have always desired. 

"I am thankful for the opportunity and look forward to many more years with this best-in-class hotel investment platform.”  


 CONTACT:

CHRIS DALY
PRESIDENT
DALY GRAY PUBLIC RELATIONS, INC.
620 Herndon Parkway, Suite 115 | Herndon, VA 20170
Main: 703-435-6293
Mobile: 703-864-5553





HEI Hotels + Resorts Promotes Ginger Martin and Pam Kirby to Vice President Positions


 Ginger Martin 

NORWALK, CT –– Officials of HEI Hotels + Resorts, a leading hospitality investment firm and management company that operates over 80 properties worldwide, announced Ginger Martin and Pam Kirby have been promoted to vice president.  

“With these two internal promotions, we add to our industry leading track record of developing and promoting top talent from within," said Anthony Rutledge, CEO & managing partner, HEI Hotels + Resorts. 


Pam Kirby

"Both Ginger and Pam are proven leaders and will complement a best- in-class team during what continues to be a very strong period of growth for HEI.  Pam and Ginger are a pleasure to work with, and I am excited about their continued leadership and contributions in their new roles,”

 A 20-plus-year hospitality industry veteran, Martin became general manager of HEI’s Le Meridien Dallas, The Stoneleigh in 2013. She held the position for seven years before being promoted to regional vice president of operations.

 In her new role, Martin will oversee several upper upscale hotels primarily located in the western U.S. region.  Before joining HEI, Martin held several hotel executive positions with Starwood Hotels & Resorts.

Martin is a graduate of University of Phoenix with a bachelor’s degree in business management.  

                       Anthony Rutledge

 Kirby joined HEI in 2015 as vice president of ownership services and analytics.  Prior to joining HEI, Kirby held key executive positions with Interstate Hotels and Crestline Hotels + Resorts, where she last served as vice president, hotel finance.

In her new role as vice president of hotel transitions and finance, she will play a key operations role in leading newly managed HEI  hotels after opening and during the transition process.

 Kirby’s 20 years of hospitality  experience runs the gamut from portfolio management, acquisitions and divestments to centralized accounting. 
She attended the University of Oregon and holds a B.S. degree in Accounting.

 CONTACT:

CHRIS DALY
PRESIDENT
DALY GRAY PUBLIC RELATIONS, INC.
620 Herndon Parkway, Suite 115 | Herndon, VA 20170
Main: 703-435-6293
Mobile: 703-864-5553
 chris@dalygray.com | www.dalygray.com

NAI Realvest Closes on Long Term Lease in DeBary’s Spring View Commerce Park to UCF Business Incubator Company Graduate


 Paul P. Partyka

DeBary, FL -- Orlando-based NAI Realvest recently completed a long-term lease agreement for 4,800 square feet of warehouse space at 403 Chairman Court in Spring View Commerce Park off U.S. Hwy. 17-92 in DeBary.   

 Paul P. Partyka, CCIM, MICP, Partner in the firm, brokered the transaction representing the landlord Venilal Enterprises, LLC of Winter Springs.      New Tenant Odor Control Products and Equipment LLC, a graduate of the UCF Business Incubation Program, relocated its growing business to Spring View Commerce Park .

CONTACTS:

Paul P. Partyka, CCIM, MICP, Partner, NAI Realvest 
407-875-9989 PPartyka@realvest.com

Patrick Mahoney, President / CEO, NAI Realvest 
407-875-9989 PMahoney@realvest.com

Beth Payan, Larry Vershel Communications, 
407-644-4142 or 407-461-3781 beth@larryvershel.com

 www.NAIrealvest.com

NAI Hiffman Appoints Jack Brennan Vice President, Industrial Services


Jack Brennan 

OAKBROOK TERRACE, IL — NAI Hiffman, the largest independent real estate services firm in the Midwest, it has appointed Jack Brennan as vice president, Industrial Services.

 Brennan will assist private and institutional tenants and owners with leasing, sales and development of industrial properties and land in Chicago’s western suburbs.

Prior to joining NAI Hiffman, Brennan was an agent with Cawley Chicago, establishing himself as a top producer by facilitating $25 million in industrial sale and lease transactions.

Michael Flynn

He also has extensive experience in site selection, building evaluation, financial analysis and strategic real estate advisory.

“Demand for industrial property in Chicago’s suburbs continues to grow, and Jack has deep expertise in some of our most active submarkets,” said Michael Flynn, chief operating officer of NAI Hiffman.

“He has built a reputation as someone not only proficient in real estate, but well-respected by colleagues and peers. We feel very fortunate to have him join our team.”

Brennan’s experience encompasses the I-88, I-55 and I-90 corridors and western Central DuPage submarkets, among others, with clients that have included High Street Logistics Properties, Venture One Real Estate, Direct Aerosystems, Plymouth REIT, Royal Power Solutions, Dayton Street Partners and more.


CONTACTS: 

Patty Cronin, pcronin@taylorjohnson.com, (312) 267-4513 
Gretchen Muller, gmuller@taylorjohnson.com, (312) 267-4511
www.hiffman.com.

NAI Realvest Closes on Long Term Industrial Leases totaling 28,000+ Square Feet at Semoran CommerCenter in Orlando, FL


Mary Frances West

ORLANDO, FL – NAI Realvest recently negotiated two long-term lease agreements for more than 28,000 square feet of office space at 6830 and 6870 Shadowridge Drive in Semoran CommerCenter off of SR 436 near Orlando International Airport .  

Tom R. Kelley, CCIM, Principal and Vice President Mary Frances West, CCIM, negotiated the transactions representing the landlord, Semoran CommerCenter LLC based in Timonium , Md. 
       
RSI Visual Systems leased 7,785 square feet to expand into the central Florida market.  The defense contractor based in Coppell , Texas specializes in visual systems for the aviation and aerospace industries.   

Tom R. Kelley
 Tenant Paychex North America, Inc. headquartered in Rochester , NY leased 20,276 square feet.  Paychex, who has been a tenant at Semoran CommerCenter for 12 years, was represented by Todd Smith of The Acclaim Group.

The Kelley and West team at NAI Realvest are leasing agents for the Semoran CommerCenter Phase I which is currently 100 percent leased.  

CONTACTS:

Mary Frances West CCIM, Vice President, NAI Realvest,
407-875-9989 mfwest@realvest.com

Tom R. Kelley II CCIM, Principal, NAI Realvest,
407-875-9989, tkelley@realvest.com or

Beth Payan, Larry Vershel Communications,
407-644-4142 beth@larryvershel.com

Osceola County Planning Commission Elects Veronica Malolos Chair for Third Consecutive Year

 Veronica Malolos

KISSIMMEE, FL -- Veronica Malolos, Osceola County broker with NAI Realvest, was re-elected Chair of the Osceola County Planning Commission to serve another one-year term in 2020. 
Malolos who has been elected for three consecutive terms is the county’s first minority woman to hold that office.  Prior to being elected chair in 2017, Malolos served as a Planning Board Commissioner for more than five years. 
“Veronica is widely recognized as a leader of both civic and human services initiatives in Osceola County ,” said Patrick Mahoney, president and CEO of NAI Realvest.   
Malolos, an alumnus of “Leadership Osceola,” has served on the county’s Affordable Housing Advisory Committee. She serves as Vice-Chair of the Board of Trustees for the Osceola Education Foundation’s Charter School Board

 Patrick Mahoney
She is also a past president of the Osceola County Assn. of Realtors and has been honored by the Central Florida Commercial Assn. of Realtors for her community service, Mahoney added.
As Chair of the Osceola County Planning Commission, Malolos guides the commission in its task of ensuring that land development is consistent with the county’s comprehensive plan.
“I thank the Osceola County Planning Commissioners for their continued faith and trust in me,” Malolos said. 

 CONTACTS:

Veronica Malolos, CCIM Osceola County Broker, NAI Realvest,
407-949-0717 Vmalolos@realvest.com

Patrick Mahoney, President/CEO, NAI Realvest,
407-875-9989 Pmahoney@realvest.com
                                             
Beth Payan, Larry Vershel Communications
407-644-4142 beth@larryvershel.com

 

www.NAIRealvest.com.

The Keyes Company’s Christina Pappas Appointed to Realtors Property Resource® Advisory Council


Christina Pappas

MIAMI, FL  – Realtors Property Resource® (RPR) has appointed Christina Pappas, District Sales Manager of The Keyes Company’s Brickell office, as a member of its prestigious advisory council. 
The appointment is a one-year term beginning Jan. 1, 2020. RPR’s advisory council is represented by top agents, brokers, appraisers and state and local association executives.
RPR is a real estate platform offered to members of the National Association of REALTORS®. The advisory council provides RPR’s management team with input on industry issues that will help design and deliver high-value data and products while increasing market engagement.


Pappas has more than 10 years of experience as a real estate professional, beginning her career as a sales associate assisting clients through the buying, selling and listing process.

 Upon receiving Rookie of the Year honors at Keyes, Pappas was promoted to Assistant Sales Manager and facilitated the training of administrators.
She currently oversees the Keyes Brickell office and is a certified trainer and mentor for the company’s “Keyes Next Gen” program, which develops the under 40 sales associates and conducts contract and social media training sessions.
“It is a great honor to be appointed to the advisory council and have the opportunity to bring my knowledge of real estate to the management team,” said Pappas. “My goal is to serve effectively and create a better product for the members of RPR.”

CONTACT:


Daniel Benjamin
Senior Account Executive, BoardroomPR
O 954-370-8999
C 954-618-8287
Bank of America Plaza | 1776 N Pine Island Road
Suite 320 | Fort Lauderdale, FL 33322