Welbro Building Corp. Places in Orlando Business Journal’s Best Places to Work

ORLANDO, FL-- Welbro Building Corporation for the 4th year in a row placed in the top 5 large companies for the “Best Places to Work” in Central Florida, sponsored by the Orlando Business Journal.

In addition, for the third time WELBRO took the #1 spot for Best Places to Work in the Large Company Category.

The best places to work are companies that don’t cut back on their commitment to employees, while asking them to work harder and smarter,” said OBJ publisher, Ann Sonntag (middle left photo). “These companies recognize employees are their best asset, instrumental in maintaining the quality and reputation for services and products. It’s a smart and winning business strategy.”

“We are proud to be recognized by our Associates and we appreciate all of their efforts that make WELBRO Building Corporation the company that it is”, stated Steve Davis, (top right photo) President/CEO of WELBRO. “We are very fortunate to have a group of very dedicated people that believe in the vision and mission of our company. This is truly their award”.

For more information, please contact:

Patricia A. Werner, CEcD, Vice President Community & Economic Development, WELBRO Building Corporation, Telephone: 407/475-0800; mobile: 407/766-3951. 2301 Maitland Center Pkwy, Suite 250
pwerner@welbro.com Maitland, Florida 32751 or

Corine A. Hall, CPSM, Marketing Manager, WELBRO Building Corporation, 2301 Maitland Center Parkway, Suite 250Maitland, FL 32751chall@welbro.comt. 407.475.0800 / f. 407.475.0801

SchenkelShultz Designs School District of Indian River County's Innovative $36.9M, 167,500-SF North County Middle School "BB" in Vero Beach, FL

VERO BEACH, FL – SchenkelShultz Architecture, West Palm Beach, one of Florida’s leading green designers, designed the School District of Indian River County’s innovative new $36.9 million, 167,500-square-foot North County Middle School “BB” now under construction in Vero Beach, FL.

Designed to meet the LEED® for Schools Gold Criteria established by the U.S. Green Building Council, the project incorporates the “school within a school” concept with each grade level housed in a separate classroom building to create small learning communities.

The facility will utilize the concept of the 3D classroom which will feature student-controlled classroom lighting, recycling programs, and indoor air quality controls.

The 1,329 student station middle school will reflect a modern Florida Cracker architectural style and will contain: a dramatic two-story entrance allowing natural light to filter to the administration spaces; a secure central courtyard with two-story walkways connecting the academic buildings;

A one-story cafeteria, administration, media and gymnasium building which will allow after-hours use by the community; a 9,000-square-foot dining/multi-purpose space with black box theatre; a covered outdoor dining area to accommodate 300 students and staff; flexible student learning centers with nine science labs; as well as vocational labs including business, art and technology.

For additional information, please contact:

Kenneth H. Cristol, President, Cristol Marketing Company237 Hunt Club Blvd., Suite 102, Longwood, FL 32779 USA. PH 407-774-2515 FX 407-774-6647

Strategic Marketing, Brand Management, Publicity and Advertising, and Corporate Communications

khc@crismktg.com

http://www.crismktg.com/

Terranova Reports Broward County Retail Rents Rise While Occupancy Declines

(Pompano Citi Center, above, shows parking lot capacity)


MIAMI BEACH, FL– Shopping center rents inBroward County increased 6% between spring 2007 and spring 2008, according to Terranova’s 2008 Shopping Center Update Report.

Average asking rent for inline space in Broward County is now $23.98 per square foot net, compared to $22.63 in 2007. (Sawgrass Mills mall, Sunrise, FL at top right)

A drop in occupancy accompanied the increase, with the county’s vacancy rate now at 7.44%, compared to 5.46% in 2007. The higher vacancy rate reflects an increase in the availability of both big-box and inline space.

The retrenchment or demise of various chains such as Rag Shops, 99 Cent Stuff, CompUSA, Pier One Kids and Bombay Co. impacted occupancy, as these stores occupied anchor and junior-anchor spaces throughout the county.

Inline space also has become more available throughout the county, as smaller local tenants have closed while national chains such as Hollywood Video, Curves and Quizno’s have reduced the number of locations.

“South Florida’s retail market remains strong and resilient, but no doubt we all now have more space available to lease,” said Stephen Bittel, Terranova’s Chairman.

“If you are in amarket with strong fundamentals, as SouthFlorida is, that means opportunity more than anything else.”

Those fundamentals include population growth and a diverse economy, and continue to fuel new retail construction, with some 25 projects totaling more than three million square feet under construction or expected to break ground in the next 12 months.

Emerson International Negotiates Lease Renewal for 14,051 SF of Office Space at Sanlando Center in Longwood, FL

ALTAMONTE SPRINGS, FL-- Emerson International has negotiated a long-term lease renewal for 14,051 square feet of office space at Sanlando Center, (bottom left photo) 2180 West SR 434 in Longwood.

Pierre de Amezola, director of sales and marketing at Emerson International, said Sean Westcott negotiated the lease agreement on behalf of the landlord, Emerson International, Inc.

The tenant, PRC, LLC, a strategic sales and marketing management company headquartered in Plantation, Fla. was represented by Sarah M. Castor (top right photo) of Strictly Commercial, Inc. in the transaction.

For more information, contact:

Pierre de Amezola, Director of Sales & Marketing, Emerson International, 407-456-1525

Larry Vershel or Beth Payan, Larry Vershel Communications, 407-644-4142

Thomas D. Wood & Co. Finances Mercator Industrial Project in Orlando

Orlando, Florida—May 28, 2008—Doug Rozzell, Principal for Thomas D. Wood and Company, secured financing in the amount of $2,300,000 for the development of Mercator Industrial in Orlando, Florida.


Rozzell financed the construction loan through Thomas D. Wood and Company’s relationship with a regional banking institution, at an interest rate of Prime + 1%.


The loan term is five years with a 25-year amortization, and a loan-to-value of 70%. The owner-occupied industrial project will be built on 10.64 acres located on Mercator Drive in Orlando, Florida.

CONTACTS:

Doug Rozzell, 407 937 0470, drozzell@tdwood.com

Jessica Gurtowski, 407 937 0470, jgurtowski@tdwood.com

HFF Arranges $241.1M Financing for 2 Washington, DC Office Buildings

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Washington, D.C. office of HFF (Holliday Fenoglio Fowler, L.P.) has arranged financing for 51 Louisiana Avenue, a historic office building, and 300 New Jersey Avenue,(rendering above) a to-be-built, 10-story office tower in Washington, D.C.

Working exclusively on behalf of the borrower, Dweck Properties, HFF senior managing directors Bob Donhauser (top right photo) and Bill Asbill (middle right photo)and director Cary Abod (middle left photo) placed a $241.1 million, three-year, fixed-rate loan with Calyon, Bank of Ireland, PB Capital and Helaba for the financing of the properties.

Originally built in 1935, 51 Louisiana Avenue has 205,580 square feet of office space and features a limestone façade, rooftop terrace and 15-foot ceiling heights.

Upon completion in 2008, 300 New Jersey Avenue will be a 10-story, 255,391-square-foot building with all glass façade construction above a six-level, 450-space underground parking garage. The properties will be connected by a 10-story, glass atrium and are 77% leased to Jones Day.

HFF (NYSE: HF) operates out of 18 offices nationwide and is a leading provider of commercial real estate and capital markets services to the U.S. commercial real estate industry.

HFF offers clients a fully integrated national capital markets platform including debt placement, investment sales, structured finance, private equity, note sales and note sale advisory services and commercial loan servicing.


CONTACTS:

Stephen C. Conley, HFF Executive Managing Director, 202 533 2500, sconley@hfflp.com

Robert F. Donhauser, HFF Senior Managing Director, 202 533 2500, rdonhauser@hfflp.com

Laurie Fish McDowell, HFF Asociate Director, Marketing, 617 338 0990, lmcdowell@hfflp.com

HFF closes sale of 51 Louisiana Ave. and 300 New Jersey Ave. in Washington, D.C.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Washington, D.C. office of HFF (Holliday Fenoglio Fowler, L.P.) has closed the sale of 51 Louisiana Avenue,(above photo) a historic office building and 300 New Jersey Avenue, a to-be-built, 10-story office tower in Washington, D.C.

HFF executive managing director Steven Conley (top right photo), senior managing director John Duffy (bottom left photo) and managing director Andrew Weir (middle left photo) led the investment sales team on behalf of the seller, The JBG Companies.

Dweck Properties purchased the project for an undisclosed amount. In coordination with the sale, HFF arranged a $241.1 million financing for the acquisition of the project.

Designed by the New York firm of Shreve, Lamb and Hamon (architects for the Empire State Building) and built in 1935, 51 Louisiana Avenue has 205,580 square feet of office space and features a limestone façade, 15-foot ceiling heights and a conference center on the 7th floor opening onto a rooftop terrace that provides extraordinary views of the United States Capitol.

Designed by world renowned architect, Sir Richard Rogers, 300 New Jersey Avenue, due for completion in November 2008, will be a LEED-certified, 255,391-square-foot building with all glass façade construction above a six-level, 450-space underground parking garage.

The property will feature a rooftop terrace with sweeping views of the U.S. Capitol, an outside plaza and a fitness center. Additionally, a 10-story, glass enclosed atrium will serve to connect the properties, which are 77% leased to Jones Day.

“51 Louisiana and 300 New Jersey Avenue will be one of the finest office complexes in Washington, D.C., combining the classic design of a historical office building with the modern architectural features of an impressive all-glass façade building,” said Conley. “In addition, both buildings will have extraordinary unobstructed views of the U.S. Capital and surrounding cityscape.”

The JBG Companies acquire and develop office, multifamily, hotel and mixed-use projects and since their inception in 1960 have developed, owned or managed over 30 million square feet of office space, 5.5 million square feet of retail space, 15,000 residential units and 15 hotel properties totaling over 4,500 rooms.

It is currently responsible for development/redevelopment opportunities of approximately 8.5 million square feet of office space, 2.2 million square feet of retail space, 13,200 multifamily residential units and 2,500 hotel rooms throughout the Washington Metropolitan area.

HFF (NYSE: HF) operates out of 18 offices nationwide and is a leading provider of commercial real estate and capital markets services to the U.S. commercial real estate industry. HFF offers clients a fully integrated national capital markets platform including debt placement, investment sales, structured finance, private equity, note sales and note sale advisory services and commercial loan servicing.

CONTACTS:

Stephen C. Conley, HFF Executive Managing Director, 202 533 2500, sconley@hfflp.com/

John E. Duffy, HFF Senior Managing Director, 202 533 2500, jduffy@hfflp.com/

Laurie Fish McDowell, HFF Associate Director, Marketing, 617 338 0990, lmcdowell@hfflp.com/

NAI Realvest Negotiates Long-term Extension Lease for 51,691SF of industrial space at Springview CommerCenter in DeBary, FL

MAITLAND, Fla. — NAI Realvest has negotiated a seven-year lease extension for 51,691 square feet of industrial space at 290 Springview Commerce Center Drive in DeBary, FL. (photo above)

Michael Heidrich, (top left photo) principal at NAI Realvest negotiated the lease extension agreement on behalf of the landlord, Springview CommerCenter LLC of DeBary.

The tenant, Newport News, Va.-based Ferguson Enterprises, Inc., has extended its three-year lease term to 10 years. Their original leased commenced Oct. 31, 2006 and has now been extended out to end Oct. 31, 2016.

For more information, please contact:

Michael Heidrich, Principal NAI Realvest, 407-875-9989 mheidrich@realvest.com

Janice Paiano, Marketing Director, NAI Realvest, 407-857-9989

jpaiano@realvest.com or

Beth Payan or Larry Vershel, LV Communications, 407-644-4142 (fax 4410)