Wednesday, March 4, 2009

Marcus & Millichap Names Steven Chaben Regional Manager of the Year

Under his leadership, the Detroit office had another record-breaking year in 2008

DETROIT, MI – Marcus & Millichap Real Estate Investment Services, the nation’s largest real estate investment services firm, has honored Steven Chaben (top right photo) of the Detroit office with its Regional Manager of the Year award, according to Harvey E. Green, president and chief executive officer.

“Steve is committed to providing a high level of service to our private and institutional investor clients in Detroit and throughout the Midwest,” says Green.

“He is also dedicated to providing our investment real estate specialists with an environment that supports their success and professional fulfillment.”

Chaben joined Marcus & Millichap in November 1997 and was instrumental in establishing the Detroit office and sales force as well as opening the Grand Rapids office.

The Detroit office ranked seventh in office revenue firm wide through December 2008 and is poised for another record-breaking year. Steve was elected a vice president of the firm in April 2000 and in June 2004 was promoted to first vice president.

In September 2008 he was given the responsibility of managing the Columbus, Cincinnati and Cleveland offices.

Prior to joining the firm, Steve served as executive vice president and director of brokerage services for a full-service real estate firm in Detroit for six years.

He has also been an investment broker, specializing in the sale of land and investment properties throughout the Midwest. He is a member of the Commercial Real Estate Institute (CCIM) and the Michigan Bar Association. Steve received a bachelor’s degree from Wayne State University in Detroit and a J.D. from the Detroit College of Law.

ALEX MOGHAREBI NAMED ONE OF MARCUS & MILLICHAP’S
TOP INVESTMENT SPECIALISTS


ENCINO, CA– Marcus & Millichap Real Estate Investment Services, the nation’s largest real estate investment services firm, has named its top investment specialists for 2008.


One agent in Marcus & Millichap’s Ontario office ranked in the Top 30 out of more than 1,300 investment specialists nationwide. The agent is Alex Mogharebi (8).(bottom left photo)

“We are proud to recognize Alex Mogharebi as one of the firm’s top agents,” says Harvey E. Green, president and chief executive officer of Marcus & Millichap. “Alex has been recognized as one of the company’s Top 10 investment specialists every year since 1990 and has been the No. 1 agent for 13 of the past 16 years.

"This achievement is a testament to his tremendous market knowledge, superior transaction expertise and commitment to providing clients with excellent brokerage and advisory services.”

Mogharebi, an executive vice president investments and a senior director of the firm’s National Multi Housing Group in Ontario, joined Marcus & Millichap in July 1989 and was promoted to vice president investments in August 1996.

In early 2008, Mogharebi was promoted to executive vice president investments. During the past 20 years, he has become one of the top investment specialists in the nation specializing in the Inland Empire and Southern California multi-family market.

Mogharebi facilitated transactions valued at nearly $72 million last year. His transactions included the sale of $27.5 million and $9.3 million multi-family community in San Bernardino, Calif., and a $14.2 million apartment community in Corona, Calif.

Press Contact: Stacey Corso, Communications Department, (925) 953-1716

GVA Advantis Norfolk and Newport News, VA Leasing Activity


NORFOLK, VA– GVA Advantis is pleased to announce the Norfolk and Newport News offices recently negotiated the following leasing transactions:

_ Tidewater Packaging Services, LLC has extended their lease and expanded into a total of on 32,500 SF of industrial space at 1400 Cavalier Blvd., Suites G
& H, in Chesapeake, VA. Bill Throne represented the tenant.
_ GVA Advantis has renewed its lease on 20,239 SF of office space in the World
Trade Center (top right photo
) in Norfolk, VA. Wes Edwards and Don Crigger represented the
landlord and Deborah Stearns represented the tenant.
_ Greenwood Christian Academy has leased 20,000 SF of space for a private
school in the Williamsburg Crossing Shopping Center in Williamsburg, VA. (top left photo)
Edward Salyers and Betsy Sutton represented the landlord.
_ Chugach Industries, LLC has subleased 17,861 SF of office space at Greenbrier
Tech Center One (middle right photo)
in Chesapeake, VA. Stephanie Sanker and Clay Culbreth
represented the subtenant.
_ Flexible Benefits Administrators, Inc. has renewed their lease and expanded
into 13,355 SF of office space at Parkway West (middle left photo) in Virginia Beach, VA. Wes
Edwards and Garren Brown represented the landlord.
_ Computer Sciences Corporation has leased 12,239 SF of office space at 5366
Virginia Beach Boulevard in Virginia Beach, VA. Wes Edwards represented the
landlord.
_ Akima has renewed their lease and expanded into 10,853 SF of office space at
Harbour Centre in Newport News, VA. Chris Bendit represented the landlord.
_ Krebs-Virginia, Inc. has renewed their lease on 7,040 SF of industrial space at
312 E 18th Street in Norfolk, VA. Ken Benassi represented the landlord.
_ National Rights to Work Committee has extended their lease on 6,900 SF of
retail space at NewMarket Shopping Center in Newport News, VA. Ursula
Seidel represented the landlord.
_ Tidewater Heart Institute has leased 5,464 SF of office space at Hampton
Professional Park (bottom right photo)
in Hampton, VA. Michael Shapiro represented the landlord.
_ Interlink Computers, Inc. has leased 4,024 SF of industrial space at
International Distribution Center in Newport News, VA. Tom Dunn
represented the landlord.
_ Baeplex Martial Arts Center, Inc. has leased 3,983 SF of retail space at the
Greensprings Business Center in Williamsburg, VA. Matt Leffler represented
the landlord.
_ Cities Grill has renewed their leased on 3,600 SF of retail space at Governor’s
Green in Williamsburg, VA. Mike Mausteller represented the landlord.
_ Huntington Learning Center has leased 2,908 SF of retail space at Kemps
Corner Shoppes in Virginia Beach, VA. Edward Salyers and Ursula Seidel
represented the landlord.
_ General Dynamics Information Technology, Inc. has extended and expanded
its lease on 2,432 SF of office space at Harbour Centre in Hampton, VA. Chris
Bendit represented the landlord.
_ Sparta Fitness, LLC has leased 1,800 SF of industrial space at 1021 Executive
Boulevard in Chesapeake, VA. Stephan Woodard represented the landlord.
_ Stephens Financial Partners, LLC has leased 1,715 SF of office space at The
Midlands Office Building (bottom left photo)
in Williamsburg, VA. Brian Baker represented the
tenant.
_ Tropical Smoothie Cafe has leased 1,705 SF of retail space at Port Warwick in
Newport News, VA. Tom Dunn represented the landlord.
_ CISCO Systems, Inc. has renewed their lease on 1,462 SF of office space at
the Westmorland Building in Virginia Beach, VA. Garren Brown represented
the tenant.
_ Eastern Eye Associates Optometry has leased 1,400 SF of retail space at York
River Crossing Center in Hampton, VA. Tom Dunn represented the landlord.
_ Temperature Satisfied, Inc. has subleased 1,200 SF of industrial space at Port
Norfolk Business Center in Portsmouth, VA. Brian Baker represented the
landlord.
_ Epix Funding, Inc. has leased 1,200 SF of office space at Executive Cove in
Virginia Beach, VA. Brian Kollar and Keith Pezzella represented the landlord.
SALES:
_ 3435 John Tyler, LLC has purchased Greensprings Business Center, an 18,549
SF office park in Williamsburg, VA Matt Leffler represented the purchaser.
Media Contact: Susan Childress, 213.8217, schildress@gvaadvantis.com

Avalon Park-based Data Transfer Solutions moves to larger quarters with offices in eight other cities across the U.S.


ORLANDO, FL - Downtown Avalon Park-based Data Transfer Solutions, LLC, which provides professional Geographic Information Systems (GIS), software engineering and web development services to local and state government agencies, is continuing its expansion undertaken in 2007 and 2008.

The firm, which opened in a converted house in Avalon Park four years ago, recently relocated its corporate headquarters to a new 12,000 square foot office suite in Downtown Avalon Park (top right photo).

The firm currently has technical offices in Jacksonville, Tampa and Ft. Collins, Colo.

A.M. “Trey” Fragala III, AICP, (bottom left photo) chief operating officer at Data Transfer Solutions, said the firm also established a regional sales office in Portland, Ore. in January adding to its existing regional sales offices in San Antonio and Boston, and subsidiary offices in Charlotte and Chicago.

Data Transfer Solutions, LLC reported revenues of more than $5 million last year.

For more information, contact:

A.M. “Trey” Fragala, III, AICP, Chief Operating Officer, Data Transfer Solutions, 3680 Avalon Park Blvd. East, Suite 200, Orlando, 32828; 407-382-5222; tfragala@edats.com;

Larry Vershel or Beth Payan, Larry Vershel Communications 407-644-4142 lvershelco@aol.com.

Mazursky Constantine Moves to Midtown with 999 Peachtree Lease

Atlanta-based Law Firm Joins Growing Ranks of Firms Leaving Buckhead

ATLANTA, GA – Jamestown, an Atlanta-based real estate investment and management company, has signed Atlanta-based Mazursky Constantine LLC to an 11-year, 24,000 square foot lease at 999 Peachtree. (top right photo)

The law firm, along with its consulting affiliate, VCG Consultants LLC, will occupy the entire 15th floor and a portion of the 12th.

Mazursky Constantine, with 15 attorneys, will move from Buckhead’s Monarch Tower, (bottom left photo) adding momentum to the trend of professional service firms relocating to Midtown from Buckhead. The firm will move to 999 Peachtree in June.

"We scoured Midtown in our search for new office space, and 999 Peachtree has the best location of any of the buildings we looked at," said Don Mazursky, (top left photo) Founding Partner of Mazursky Constantine.

"We have employees from Alpharetta to Avondale Estates, so the central location, access to MARTA and the proximity to restaurants and shops along and around Peachtree Street made 999 Peachtree the clear choice." Mazursky added, "With the assistance of Fred Sheats, the best broker in the city, we selected the best building in the city."

Jamestown purchased 999 Peachtree in 2007 and plans to expand the retail portion of the property, which is prominently located along the Midtown Mile.

"Mazursky is an important addition for us at 999 Peachtree," said Matt Bronfman, (middle right photo) Chief Operations Officer and Managing Director at Jamestown. "Signing a firm with such a great reputation is an affirmation of the hard work we have done at 999 Peachtree and of our long term vision for that property."

999 Peachtree is located at the intersection of 10th and Peachtree streets, one block from the Midtown MARTA Station and in the heart of the Midtown Mile. Jamestown and other property owners are coordinating their efforts to merge new and existing retail into an authentic, cosmopolitan shopping district called the "Midtown Mile."

The location of 999 Peachtree provides quick access to dense retail stretching from 6th Street to 10th Street. Piedmont Park is a short walk away, and the building offers direct access to I75/85.
The 28-story office tower totals 625,000-square-feet and is home to the Peachtree Club, Midtown’s only private dining club.

Jamestown has begun to redesign portions of 999 Peachtree, including an expansion of the lobby level retail to provide a more distinct sidewalk presence and larger storefronts for retailers. Building amenities now include a branch bank, café and coffee shop

Contact: Bryan Long, Jackson Spalding, (404) 724-2501; blong@jacksonspalding.com

CB Richard Ellis Represents Michaels Stores Inc. in 270,000-SF Lease in Jacksonville, FL

JACKSONVILLE, FL--CB Richard Ellis, the world's leading commercial real estate services provider, is pleased to have represented Michaels Stores, Inc. in the lease transaction of 270,000 square feet at 4300 Bulls Bay Highway inside the Westside Industrial Park (middle left photo) in Jacksonville, Florida .


The team of Terry Quarterman, First Vice President, and Jeff Nelson, (top left photo) Senior Associate, of CB Richard Ellis in Jacksonville represented Michaels Stores, Inc. in the transaction.

For over 20 years, the family of Michaels Stores, Inc., the nation's largest specialty retailer of arts and crafts materials, has been helping crafters of all ages express themselves with skill and originality. Michaels is scheduled to occupy the building this summer and will be using the space for their seasonal goods distribution center.

Built in 1991, 4300 Bulls Bay Highway is a Class "B", single-tenant industrial warehouse building owned by Stone Mountain Industrial Park, Inc.

Michaels Stores, Inc., based in Irving, Texas, is the world's largest specialty retailer of arts, crafts, framing, floral, wall décor, and seasonal merchandise for the hobbyist and do-it-yourself home decorator.

The company currently owns and operates over 1000 Michaels stores in 49 states and Canada and 161 Aaron Brothers stores.

Contacts:
Terry Quarternam, 904.630.6342, terry.quarterman@cbre.com
Jeffrey Nelson, 904.630.6359, jeffrey.nelson@cbre.com

CB RICHARD ELLIS ORLANDO BROKERS RECEIVE THREE NAIOP AWARDS

The Orlando office of CB Richard Ellis received three awards at the Central Florida NAIOP 2008 Awards dinner.

David Murphy, (middle left photo) Senior Vice President, won Industrial Broker of the Year for the sixth consecutive year and seventh time in ten years.

Ron Rogg, (middle right photo) Executive Vice President, won Investment Property Broker of the Year for the fourth consecutive year.

Chris Sproles,(bottom left photo) First Vice President, won the Unique Deal of the Year award for his representation of GAI Consultants in the relocation of their Florida corporate headquarters to a seven-story building that is currently under construction east of downtown Orlando.

Chris also finished second in the Office Broker of the Year category.

Bill Moss, (bottom right photo) Senior Managing Director, acknowledged, "We are pleased that three CB Richard Ellis Orlando Sales Professionals, David, Ron and Chris, have been recognized for these prestigious NAIOP awards. Their achievements validate our commitment to creating great client experiences."

Contact: Angelique Greven, 407.839.3158, angelique.greven@cbre.com

Four Points by Sheraton Kuching Opens Doors to Travelers

Brand’s First Hotel in Malaysia is Convenient to City Center and Leading Attractions

KUCHING, MALAYSIA, Mar. 4, 2009 – Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE: HOT) today announced the opening of Four Points by Sheraton Kuching, the first new international hotel to open in Kuching, Malaysia in almost two decades.

Owned by Global Ulpine Sdn. Bhd., the newly constructed hotel is also the brand’s first open in South East Asia.

Four Points by Sheraton Kuching offers 421 spacious rooms, comfortable beds, and a lively, social atmosphere.

Located just minutes from Kuching International Airport, Four Points by Sheraton Kuching is adjacent to the Gyratory roundabout, 15 minutes south of the city center.

Guests can explore the local area on foot or take a short taxi ride to discover the city’s diverse selection of shops, restaurants, temples and bazaars.

Nearby attractions include Sarawak Cultural Village, Damai Beach and the orangutans of Borneo at the Semenggoh Wildlife Centre.

“Four Points by Sheraton is delighted to welcome guests to Kuching, one of Malaysia’s most colorful and dynamic cities,” said Sandy Swider, Vice President, Four Points by Sheraton.

“Four Points by Sheraton gives guests just what they need – comfortable rooms, an inviting social atmosphere and extras to help them feel fulfilled at the end of the day.”

“We’re extremely excited to introduce the Four Points by Sheraton brand to Malaysia,” said Mal McArdle, General Manager of Four Points by Sheraton Kuching. “We offer guests approachable and straightforward hospitality – a style that will work really well for the Kuching market."

Developed and owned by Global Upline Sdn. Bhd., Four Points by Sheraton Kuching combines modern architectural design with practical use of space. The hotel is opening just 11 months following the start of construction.

“The simple functionality of our design allows us to introduce the Four Points’ honest, uncomplicated hospitality to a market that’s hungry for a new international hospitality brand,” said Bobby Ting, Assistant Managing Director of Global Upline. “This property is testament to our ability to deliver turnkey projects to the market in an accelerated timeframe.”

Contact:

Hwee-Peng Yeo
Director, Corporate Communications
Starwood Asia Pacific Hotels & Resorts Ltd
9 Temasek Boulevard, Suntec City Tower 2
#24-02, Singapore 038989

Tel : +65 6335 4837; Cell : +65 9768 6087; +65 9248 0424 Fax : +65 6335 4820
http://www.starwoodhotels.com/; http://www.starwoodpressclub.com/