Monday, May 12, 2008

Simon Property Group Increases Segway(R) PT Fleet for Security Patrols


(Above photo shows segway transporter units in use by local police at Segway Mall in Indianapolis, IN)


Company Now Has Over 225 Units Deployed at More Than 125 Shopping Malls Nationwide


(Simon-owned Arsenal Mall at Watertown, MA is at top left)

INDIANAPOLIS, May 12, 2008/PRNewswire/ -- Simon Property Group, Inc. (NYSE:SPG) and Segway Inc. today announced that Simon Property Group has made a substantial purchase of additional Segway Personal Transporters (PTs) that will increase its current security fleet of Segway PTs to more than 225 machines.


Simon now uses Segway PTs at more than 125 shopping malls in the United States, making it the largest deployment by any company in the shopping center industry.


Among the cities in which Simon Property Group now uses Segway PTs for mall security are San Diego, Las Vegas, Houston, Miami and Boston.


The majority of Simon's fleet consists of the same latest-generation Segway model (i2) recently adopted by the New York City Police Department and numerous international airports.


Simon Property Group first began its investment in Segway PTs for mall security patrols in 2004 with a trial program at mall locations in Texas.


Based upon that successful pilot program, Simon pioneered the use of Segway PTs in retail security by broadening its deployment of Segway PTs and implementing specialized training programs that instructed security personnel on how to use the units in a mall environment. (Photo of Simon-owned Copley Place Mall in Boston is at lower right.)



By 2006, Simon had initiated a national Segway rollout to its properties."From day one of our Segway PT program, our goal has been to give our security personnel the tools they need to ensure that our mall guests and retail partners have a safe and enjoyable experience," says John Petruzzi, Vice President of Corporate Security and Emergency Management at Simon Property Group.


"They have increased the visibility and range of our security personnel, and enabled them to swiftly respond to emergency situations wherever they might occur. (Photo of Simon-owned Fashion Valley Mall in San Diego is at lower left)



"The entire initiative has been very well received by our security personnel, our retail partners and millions of our mall guests. An added benefit is the social interaction between security personnel on Segway PTs and members of the public who are naturally drawn to them out of curiosity."


"Worldwide, hundreds of police and security agencies have adopted the Segway PT for their patrolling, emergency response and community policing needs. According to Jim Norrod, CEO of Segway Inc., much of the momentum that Segway now experiences in the security sector is the result of innovators like Simon Property Group.


"Very early on Simon recognized the potential of Segway PTs to make security personnel more effective, and they took great care in seamlessly integrating them into their operations," says Norrod. "As with every facet of their business, Simon delivers a premium level of service to its customers and retail tenants, and we are extremely proud that they continue to choose Segway products to ensure that their security remains world class."



Simon Property Group, Inc. is an S&P 500 company and the largest public U.S. real estate company. Simon is a fully integrated real estate company which operates from five retail real estate platforms: regional malls, Premium Outlet Centers(R), The Mills(R), community/lifestyle centers and international properties.


It currently owns or has an interest in 382 properties comprising 260 million square feet of gross leasable area in North America, Europe and Asia. The Company is headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana and employs more than 5,000 people worldwide. Simon Property Group, Inc. is publicly traded on the NYSE under the symbol SPG. For further information, visit the Company's website at http://www.simon.com/.


Segway Inc. develops intelligent motion control technology known as Segway(R) Smart Motion(TM) that is embedded in the light electric transportation devices it manufactures, such as the well-known Segway(R) Personal Transporter (PT).


Segway Smart Motion provides intelligent motion control that enables a device to monitor its environment, control its motion and make decisions about how it should move.


Segway markets a full line of zero-emissions Segway PTs for sidewalk and cross-terrain use that deliver impressive energy efficiency -- equivalent to 450 miles per gallon/191 kilometers per liter of fuel.


The company's line of Segway Robotic Mobility Platforms (RMPs) offers reliable, durable mobility solutions for robotic applications.Segway Inc., based in Bedford, N.H., U.S.A, has a worldwide distribution network of more than 250 retail points in 61 countries.

For additional information about Segway and to find retail locations, please visit http://www.segway.com/ or call 1-866-4SEGWAY. (Simon-owned Florida Mall is at left photo)


CONTACT:

Jack Klobucar, +1-952-925-9566, jklobucar@addedvalueinc.com, for Segway Inc.; or

Brenda Mahoney, Director, Commercial Sales of Segway Inc.,+1-603-222-6253, brenda.mahoney@segway.com; or

Billie Scott of Simon PropertyGroup, +1-317-263-7148, bscott@simon.com

Posted by Alex at 12:34 PM 0 comments
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Taurus Investment Holdings, LLC, Signs American Systems Corporation to Five-Year Lease at Challenger South, Phase II


ORLANDO, FL – Boston-based Taurus Investment Holdings, LLC, has signed American Systems Corporation to a 5-year, 6,355-square-foot lease at its new 75,000-square-foot Challenger South, Phase II, flex-tech building at Central Florida Research Park (photo at left below) in Orlando, FL.

Jeff K. McFadden, (top right photo) SIOR, Managing Partner of its Winter Park-based subsidiary Taurus Southern Investments, LLC, made the announcement.

McFadden and Heidi C. Adams, (top left photo) Director of Leasing of Taurus Southern Investments, represented the landlord. Larry Barninger of Staubach represented the tenant. American Systems Corporation, Chantilly, VA, provides systems engineering, technical and managed services to government and private sector customers.

Taurus Investment Holdings, LLC, is widely known as a strategic real estate owner-operator specializing in value creation through a mix of development, redevelopment, lease-up and intensive professional management of each individual investment.

With 14 offices in the U.S. and seven more across the globe, Taurus Investment Holdings successfully balances local entrepreneurship with global financial strength. It steadfastly holds to the philosophy of preservation of principal, providing superior risk-adjusted returns, and alignment of interests with investors.

Taurus was founded in 1976 and has documented an impeccable track record of significant above-market returns. Since its inception, Taurus has purchased and sold over 20 million square feet of office, industrial, retail, residential and hotel assets.

Since establishing a presence in Central Florida in 1990, Winter Park-based Taurus Southern has become a respected industry leader known for strategic new commercial development and value-added redevelopment projects as well as management, leasing and brokerage of capital assets.

Led by McFadden, who has over 25 years of experience in commercial development and brokerage, Taurus Southern Investments, LLC, is headquartered at 1560 Orange Avenue, Suite 410, Winter Park, FL. For more information, visit http://www.tiholdings.com/.

CONTACT:

Kenneth H. Cristol, President,
Cristol Marketing Company
237 Hunt Club Blvd., Suite 102,
Longwood, FL 32779 USA
PH 407-774-2515
FX 407-774-6647
khc@crismktg.com
http://www.crismktg.com/
Strategic Marketing, Brand Management,
Publicity and Advertising, and Corporate Communications
Posted by Alex at 11:41 AM 0 comments
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Lane Co. Breaks Ground on New Atlanta Apartments

Construction Begins on "No. 10 Park" New Apartments Underway on Perimeter Center East

ATLANTA, GA (May 12, 2008) – Construction has begun on Lane Company's newest development, "No. 10 Park." (rendering above) The $60 million upscale rental community is in the rapidly-growing Central Perimeter area, a prime hub of business and retail activity.

"The Perimeter area is one of the strongest markets in the Metro Atlanta area," said John Bell, (top right photo) Development Partner for Lane Southeast, LLC. "Low apartment vacancies and strong job growth will mean a continued demand for luxury apartments," he added.

Located on Perimeter Center East near Perimeter Mall, (photo at left below) No. 10 Park will have 312 one and two bedroom apartments. Luxury amenities will include a resort-style pool with a sundeck and cabana. The clubhouse will feature a 24-hour state-of-the-art fitness center, WiFi Internet café, conference room and open theater-style kitchen available for resident gatherings.

Exteriors of the contemporary-style five-story building will include landscaped courtyards with seating areas, fountains and gardens. Covered parking will be concealed from public view.

"It's just a stone's throw from Perimeter Mall, so upscale shopping and dining are close at hand," said Development Manager Jeff Sherman. "We're building a truly walkable community."

No. 10 Park is within one-half mile of I-285 and less than two miles from Ga. 400. The proximity to the highways will make it easy to get to Downtown, Alpharetta and Cobb County; it also is within a few miles of a MARTA rail station.

The two equity partners for the development are Eagle Realty Group (a real estate investment management firm and member of W&SFG) and an affiliate of WLD Enterprises Inc. Guaranty Bank is the lender. Lane Realty Construction, LLC is the general contractor.

Lane Management, LLC will lease and manage the completed apartments. The Preston Partnership is the architect. The first residents are expected to occupy their new homes in summer of 2009, followed by full completion in the fall. Lane Company's other recent projects include several apartment communities and condominium developments in Atlantic Station,(photo at right above) the popular live/work/play community in Midtown Atlanta.

In cooperation with The Dawson Co., Lane Southeast is constructing the eon at Lindbergh condominiums, as well as a mixed-use development, in the fashionable Buckhead community. Lane Northeast is building The Quarter, another large mixed-use community, in Towson, Maryland. Many more projects are in the pipeline.
Lane Company (http://www.lanecompany.com/) is a vertically-integrated, full-service multifamily real estate company. Its expertise extends to all areas of real estate including apartment and condominium development, investment, property management, construction, asset management, marketing and sales.

With over 30 years experience, Lane Company is recognized as one of the most innovative, efficient and technologically-advanced firms in the multifamily industry. Its goal is to make big things happen by connecting people and communities one home at a time.

Media Contact:

Terri Thornton,
Thornton Communications,
404-687-8760
404-932-4347 (Cell)
Posted by Alex at 11:05 AM 0 comments
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HFF Named to Market Sale of Development Site Adjacent to McCormick Place in Downtown Chicago


CHICAGO, IL, May 12, 2008--The Chicago office of HFF (Holliday Fenoglio Fowler, L.P.) announced today that it has been named to market for sale 2222 South Indiana, a 78,000-square-foot land site (aerial photo above) in downtown Chicago, Illinois.

HFF senior managing director Matthew Lawton (top right photo) and director Daniel Kaufman will lead the investment sales team on behalf of the seller, McHugh Construction.

2222 South Indiana is a 1.8-acre development site located immediately adjacent to Chicago’s 2.2 million-square-foot McCormick Place Convention Center (photo at left below).

Situated directly west of the entrance to the McCormick Place West Building, the site is bounded by South Michigan Avenue, South Indiana Avenue, East Cermak Road and 23rd Street in close proximity to the Museum Campus, Soldier Field, Grant Park and Chicago’s central business district.

It is well-positioned as a hotel, residential and/or mixed-use development site.
“McCormick Place Convention Center is the largest convention facility in the United States attracting over two million trade and public show visitors per year.

The West Building expansion is adding 710,000 square feet of additional meeting space and is expected to generate more than 300,000 new hotel room bookings per year,” said Kaufman. “The 2222 South Indiana development site is an excellent opportunity for a large scale hotel-oriented development.”




CONTACTS:


Laurie Fish McDowell
HFF Associate Director, Marketing
One Post Office Square, Suite 3500
Boston, MA 02109
tel 617.338.0990
fax 617.338.2150

Matthew D. Lawton,
HFF Senior Managing Director
(312) 528-3650
mlawton@hfflp.com


Daniel A. Kaufman
HFF Director
(312) 528-3650
dkaufman@hfflp.com
Posted by Alex at 10:03 AM 0 comments
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DCT Industrial Trust Announces Leasing Activity in Memphis

More than 770,000 Square Feet of Leases Signed

DENVER, CO, PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- DCT Industrial Trust Inc. (NYSE:DCT), a leading industrial real estate investment trust, has announced significant leasing activity in the Memphis market.

Mallory Alexander International Logistics, a leading third party logistics company, has renewed its lease for 218,000 square feet and expanded into an additional 120,000 square feet to occupy the entire 338,000 square foot building. The lease term is three years.

Neely Mallory, (top right photo) Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Mallory Alexander International Logistics, commented, "DCT Industrial was able to meet our needs for additional high-quality distribution space. We are pleased that we will be able to grow our Memphis operations without any disruption to our business."

HD Supply Distribution Services renewed its lease for 193,000 square feet and expanded into an additional 91,000 square feet to occupy the entire 284,000 square foot building under a seven year lease term.

DCT Industrial also added a new customer, Quebecor World Logistics, the world's largest distributor of catalogs, publications and newspaper inserts, to a 149,000 square foot bulk distribution facility under a 39 month lease term.


"We are extremely happy with the level of leasing activity that we've seen in Memphis over the past few months," said John Tugman, Vice President and Regional Director of Leasing for DCT Industrial. "Our portfolio of high-quality assets in Memphis enables us to meet the expansion needs of existing customers as well as attract new customers."

DCT Industrial's operating portfolio in Memphis is currently 96.9% leased. The Company owns or manages 5.4 million square feet in Memphis and has one 885,000 square foot building under development.

DCT Industrial Trust Inc. is a leading industrial real estate company that owns, operates and develops high-quality bulk distribution and light industrial properties in high-volume distribution markets in the U.S. and Mexico.

As of March 31, 2008, the Company owned, managed or had under development 76.9 million square feet of assets leased to approximately 850 corporate customers, including 12.1 million square feet managed on behalf of three institutional joint venture partners. Additional information is available at http://www.dctindustrial.com/.

CONTACT: Sara Knapp, Corporate Communications of DCT Industrial TrustInc., +1-303-597-1550, investorrelations@dctindustrial.comWeb site: http://www.dctindustrial.com/
Posted by Alex at 9:25 AM 0 comments
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