Friday, June 24, 2011

Cloudy Commercial Real Estate Market Starting to Show Silver Lining

ST. PETERSBURG, FL. Commercial real estate — typically a lagging indicator of economic vitality — is starting to show signs of recovery, says one expert. ---

Rachel Elias Wein (middle right photo), AIA, founder and principal of WeinPlus Real Estate Advisory Services in St. Petersburg, recently returned from the International Council of Shopping Centers’ annual Re-Con Convention, which drew an estimated 30,000 real estate brokers, developers and retailers to Las Vegas.

Billed as the nation’s annual gathering of commercial real estate dealmakers, Re-Con was just that, Wein said.

“I’ve never seen so many principals and top executives looking for deals,” Wein said.

“Development deals, anchor tenant deals, power broker deals, retailers shopping market demographics, and the bread and butter of retailers, it was very encouraging,” Wein said.

Wein said commercial real estate developers and retailers are showing signs of improved confidence that improved economic conditions are eminent.

“I think the industry is seeing pent up demand from all sides,” Wein said. “The convention was an energetic, exhausting and entirely optimistic experience,” she said.

For more information, contact

Rachel Elias Wein, AIA, Founder / Principal, WeinPlus, 727-386-9346, www.weinplusassociates.com;

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

NAI Realvest Negotiates 4.65 Acre Land Sale for development of 60,000-SF headquarters building in Oviedo, FL

Orlando, FL -- NAI Realvest recently negotiated the sale of a 4.65 acre parcel of land on S. Econ Circle in Oviedo for $789,790.56 that will be home to a new headquarters building for Nutrex, Inc., a nutritional food and supplements maker.

Paul P. Partyka (top right photo), managing partner at NAI Realvest, who represented the seller, M&O LP of Oviedo, said the property was purchased by TSO Enterprises LLC of Chuluota, Fla. Nutrex will start construction of its new 60,000 square foot headquarters building on the site this summer.

For more information, contact

Paul P. Partyka, Managing Partner, NAI Realvest, 407-875-9989 ppartyka@realvest.com;

Patrick Mahoney, President, NAI Realvest, 407-875-9989 pmahoney@realvest.com

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

Cuhaci & Peterson Architects Starts Design Work for Remodeling of a Kangaroo Express in South Carolina

ORLANDO, FL – Cuhaci & Peterson Architects, LLC based in Orlando’s Baldwin Park, recently completed design work for the remodeling of a Kangaroo Express convenience store located at 101 S. Main St. in Clover, S.C.

Jed Downs (top right photo), president of Cuhaci & Peterson Architects, said the store has a floor area of approximately 2,300 square feet.

The Pantry awarded the design contract.

For more information, contact:

Jed Downs, President Cuhaci & Peterson Architects, 407-661-9100

Lonnie Peterson, Chairman Cuhaci & Peterson Architects, 407-661-9100

Larry Vershel or Beth Payan, LV Communications, Inc. 407-644-4142

First Green Bank Chairman Honored by Lake County

EUSTIS, Fla. – Kenneth E. LaRoe, chairman and chief executive officer of Lake County based First Green Bank, which has locations in Clermont and Eustis and plans to open a 12,000 square foot headquarters facility in Mount Dora in mid-summer, was recently honored by the Lake County Board of County Commissioners for his community service.

LaRoe, who has served on the Lake County Public Land Acquisition Advisory Council since 2006, was presented with the award in recognition of his “many dedicated hours of service volunteered to Lake County and its citizens.”

First Green Bank is one of the first banks of its kind to focus on positive environmental and social responsibility while operating as a traditional commercial bank.

The new First Green Bank facility on U.S. 441 was designed and built to achieve LEED platinum certification from the U.S. Green Building Council.

“I am very honored by the recognition from the Board of County Commissioners,” LaRoe said. “Part of our mission is to do the right thing for our community and to demonstrate the highest standards of corporate citizenship,” LaRoe said.

“That’s a positive value we encourage in every one of our colleagues, partners and co-workers at First Green Bank and it is carried through in our customer service, our wide range of personal and business banking services, and even our facilities. Our mission also entails doing the right thing for the environment, our people, and our shareholders,” he said.

For more information about this press release, contact

Kenneth E. LaRoe, Chairman and CEO, LEED® AP, First GREEN Bank, 352-483-9100, ken@firstgreenbank.com

Larry Vershel or Beth Payan, Larry Vershel Communications 407-644-4142 or 407-461-3780, lvershelco@aol.com

Black Tie Real Estate & Investments adds Veteran Real Estate Specialist to its Growing Sales Staff

LADY LAKE, FL (June 24, 2011) – Black Tie Real Estate & Investments, a member of the University of Central Florida’s Business Incubation Program in Leesburg, recently hired Realtor Jane Paquin (top right photo) as a real estate consultant for The Villages.

Paquin, who has lived in the tri-county area since 1967, has been involved in real estate for 30 years (+/-). She has 18 years of experience with The Villages, 12 of which were working for the developer.

For the past six years, Paquin has been involved in general real estate, focusing on resales, according to Mark Dyer, president of Black Tie Real Estate.

“With her years of experience and vast knowledge of the area, Jane is a welcomed asset to our staff,” he said.

Paquin currently serves on the Committee for Education for the Tri-County Area Board of Realtors, and formerly served on the board’s Committee for Compliance/Complaints.

For more information about Black Tie Real Estate visit www.blacktierealestate.com or call 352-751-7888

.For more information about this release, please contact:

Mark Dyer, Broker/Owner Black Tie Real Estate & Investments, 352-751-7888 or mark.dyer@blacktie10.com

James Spencer, Site Manager, UCF Business Incubator-Leesburg, 352-315-1846, james.spencer@ucf.edu

Charlene Hager-Van Dyke, Larry Vershel Communications, 386-532-8862 or 407-644-4142; chagervandyke@yahoo.com

Stirling Sotheby’s International Realty Launches Global Marketing Effort for Two Luxury Homes at Solivita near Walt Disney World

ORLANDO, FL --- Stirling Sotheby’s International Realty launched a global marketing effort for two luxury residences at Solivita, the exclusive gated luxury community for active adults minutes from Walt Disney World in.

Roger Soderstrom, founder and owner of Stirling Sotheby’s International Realty, said both luxury homes are priced to sell.

Stirling Sotheby’s International Realty International Luxury Home Specialist Erin Wanner (top right photo) has listed a home — the Julliard model — at 123 Windsong St. in Solivita priced at $231,900. The three-bedroom, three-bath luxury home offers a new tile roof and an extended screened lanai.

Stirling Sotheby’s trusted real estate advisor Lynn Edwards (lower left photo) has listed a Tuscan-styled luxury home at 211 San Vincente Lane in Solivita, priced at $465,000.

For more information about the home on Windsong Street, visit http://www.stirlingsir.com/eflyers/agents/ewanner/ew2.html

For more information about the home on San Vincente Lane, visit

http://www.stirlingsir.com/eflyers/agents/ledwards/le.html

For more information, contact

Roger Soderstrom, Founder/Owner Stirling Sotheby’s International Realty 407-581-7890; rsoderstrom@stirlingSIR.com

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

Colliers International Negotiates Sale of 38,014-SF Industrial Building in Camarillo, CA

CAMARILLO, CA, June 23, 2011 – Colliers International, the second largest global real estate services organization, recently directed the sale of a 38,014-square-foot industrial building located at 251 Camarillo Ranch Rd. (top left photo), Camarillo, Calif. to Zindagi Games, Inc. The sale was valued at approximately $3.8 million.

Built in 2003, the unique facility boasts several state of the art features. Originally built for and occupied by Pacific Sales Kitchen and Bath Center, the facility will now be used as office space for a sports video game developer.

The seller was represented by John DeGrinis (middle right photo), SIOR, senior executive vice president based in Colliers International’s Encino office, Patrick DuRoss (middle left photo), associate vice president, and Jeff Abraham (bottom right photo), senior associate, along with Clint McMorris, senior vice president based in Colliers International’s Torrance office.

Roger Beck and Gelena Skya of Grubb and Ellis represented the buyer, Zindagi Games.

“This building is very unique within the market,” DuRoss explained. “It has industrial bones with excellent loading, a 24-foot minimum clear height and 1000 Amps of power.

“But the extensive window line, dropped ceiling, air conditioning throughout and high parking ratio lent itself to office or retail uses as well. We believed an office user, like Zindagi Games, would find value in the building given its adaptability to a variety of uses.”

TEAM DeGRINIS is a specialized group within Colliers International that provides consulting on industrial and R&D real estate requirements in the Ventura County and San Fernando Valley.

With a combined 40 years of experience in the commercial real estate industry, TEAM DeGRINIS is a leader in sharing strategic local market insight and has completed more than $425 million in transactions over the past five years.

For more information, visit www.colliers.com/markets/greater_los_angeles/degrinis

Contact: Angela S. Hwang

Regional Marketing Coordinator | Greater Los Angeles

Dir +1 213 532 3258 | Mob +1 310 867 4105

Main +1 213 627 1214 | Fax +1 213 327 3258

angela.hwang@colliers.com

Colliers International

865 S Figueroa St., Suite 3500 | Los Angeles, CA 90017 | USA