Monday, January 30, 2012

Nicholas Matt rejoins HFF Pittsburgh as managing director




PITTSBURGH, PA – HFF announced today that Nicholas Matt (top right photo) has rejoined the firm as a managing director in its Pittsburgh office. 

Mr. Matt will focus on debt and investment sales transactions for all property types with a specialized focus on multi-housing throughout the northeastern United States.

 He worked at HFF for more than 10 years as an analyst and later a managing director before spending two years as a senior vice president in CBRE’s debt and equity finance department.

 Prior to working for HFF, he spent nearly 10 years employed with “Big Four” accounting firms where he advanced to become a tax manager in the Pittsburgh office of PricewaterhouseCoopers. 

Mr. Matt has a Bachelor of Science degree from Saint Vincent College, an MBA in Finance from the University of Pittsburgh and a Masters in Taxation from Robert Morris College. 

 He is a Certified Public Accountant and a member of the Apartment Association of Pittsburgh, the Western Pennsylvania Apartment Association, the Institute of Real Estate Management, Urban Land Institute, National Association of Office and Industrial Properties and the Pennsylvania Institute of CPAs.  

“Nick is one of the top producers in the Pittsburgh market and HFF is fortunate to have him back with the firm,” said Mark Popovich (lower left photo), a senior managing director in HFF”s Pittsburgh office.

Contacts:                         
                    
MARK POPOVICH                             KRISTEN MURPHY
HFF Senior Managing Director        HFF Associate Director, Marketing
 (412) 281-8714                                 (713) 852-3500
mpopovich@hfflp.com                      krmurphy@hfflp.com

LAX Central Utility Plant Project Tops Out



 LOS ANGELES, CA,  Jan. 30, 2012 – The new Central Utility Plant (CUP) at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) reached a major construction milestone when construction workers placed the final structural steel beam atop the building’s frame on January 24, 2012.

Currently on schedule for construction completion in summer 2014, the $438 million (development cost) design-build project is being built by Clark/McCarthy, A Joint Venture.

In just four weeks, construction workers from Schuff Steel used a Manitowoc 999 Lattice-boom crawler crane with a reach of 140 feet to erect 1,400 tons of structural steel, creating the frame for the new CUP.

 An audience of approximately 300 project stakeholders and construction workers celebrated the ‘topping out’ during a ceremony held near the construction site.

As a part of the event, attendees signed the final I-beam adorned with an American flag and an evergreen tree. The beam was then lifted 75 feet high and attached to the top of the structure.

The new CUP is being built to replace the existing 50-year old facility with a modern; state-of-the-art, computer managed utility plant providing enhanced passenger comfort and reliability of utility service and safety within the newly renovated modernized terminals at LAX.

 The existing CUP will service the airport throughout construction. Upon project completion, the replacement will be brought on-line and the old CUP will be decommissioned and demolished.

Clark/McCarthy, A Joint Venture is a joint venture between Clark Construction Group and McCarthy Building Companies.

Additional project partners include: Gruen Associates, Los Angeles, architect; Arup, Los Angeles, mechanical, electrical, plumbing, structural, and commissioning engineer; Capital Engineering Consultants, Rancho Cordova, Calif., mechanical consultant; Greenform, Los Angeles, sustainability consultant; and PID Engineering, San Diego, cogeneration consultant.

For more information about the project and project teams, please visit:


Media Contacts:

Laura Mickelson, McCarthy Building Companies
(949) 453-0851
16 Technology Drive, Suite 125
Irvine, CA  92618
(949) 453-0851
(949) 453-8420 fax
Follow me on Twitter @LauraMickelson

Eric Fulton, Clark Construction, eric.fulton@clarkconstruction.com
(301) 272-8437
Albert Rodriguez, Los Angeles World Airports, arodriguez@lawa.org
(424) 646-5260

The Lodging Unlimited Group of Companies Appointed Receiver for Country Hearth Inns & Suites Hotel in Indiana





CHICAGO, IL and NEW YORK, NY, Jan. 30, 201--The Lodging Unlimited Group of Companies (LUIGC), a  hotel investment and services organization, today announced that it has been appointed receiver by a Midwestern savings bank for the Country Hearth Inns & Suites hotel (top left photo) in Madison, Ind.

 The hotel will be operated by LUIGC’s Chicago-based hotel management division, Lodging Unlimited, Inc., which has a 50-plus-year proven track record of operating and turning around troubled hotels.  It is the eighth hotel currently owned or operated by the company.

“Many hotels were unable to survive the severe economic downturn and credit crunch and require a significant infusion of re-energized management, updated marketing strategy and creative financing,” said Morris Lasky (middle right photo), chief executive and founder of the management company. 

 “We have a significant number of relationships with lending institutions and expect to increase our work as a receiver over the next 24 months. 

“Our role for this property is to dramatically improve top-line revenues, rebuild margins and enhance employee morale.  That combination will help us quickly re-establish the hotel in its market, return it to profitability and significantly improve its value.”
 
Lasky noted that the company is building its hotel management portfolio by taking on troubled and profitable asset assignments, both individual hotels and portfolios, and through acquisitions through its sister company, The Lodging Opportunities Group LLC (LOG).

LOG is a recently formed opportunistic investment company formed to acquire troubled assets that require significant hands-on turnaround and repositioning expertise.  Headquartered in New York City, the company currently has a significant pipeline of both single assets and portfolios. 

“We organized our group to respond to the opportunities that are emerging from the latest down-turn,” said Marty Schiffman (middle left photo), president of LOG.  “Combined, our executive team brings more than 150 years of hotel and real estate investment experience, including ownership, third-party management, asset management and consulting on hotel assets valued at more than $8 billion in the aggregate, comprising more than 300 hotels.” 

The organization historically has been an active participant in the troubled segment of the hotel industry, and along with management, provides litigation support, development consulting and crisis consulting. 

The Lodging Unlimited Group of Companies includes  Lodging Unlimited Inc., a diversified company providing all aspects of distress services; Lodging Unlimited West, the group’s Scottsdale, Ariz.-based hotel management division; and LOG. 

Additional information about the company may be found at www.lodgingunlimited.com, or by calling Morris Lasky at (312) 595-1390, Marty Schiffman at (212) 909-8420, or John Cauvin at (480) 443-0909 x100.


 Media contact:

Jerry Daly, Patrick Daly
Daly Gray, Inc.
703 435 6293

 Patrick Daly
Account Supervisor
Daly Gray, Inc.
Office:  (703) 435-6293
Cell:  (703) 300-8289

Access Point Financial Secures Credit Facility with Wells Fargo Capital Finance in Response to Growing Demand for CapEx Financing



 ATLANTA, GA, Jan. 30, 2012—Officials with Access Point Financial, Inc., a full-service lending and advisory company focused on the hospitality industry, today announced that they have closed on a senior secured credit facility with Wells Fargo Capital Finance, part of Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE: WFC). 

The facility, combined with a substantial equity investment in Access Point by Stone Point Capital, LLC, puts the company on track to place $1 billion in loans for hotel improvement/bridge financing by 2015, in line with its initial projections. 

“We are pleased to have established a relationship with Access Point Financial,” said Andrea Petro (top right photo), division manager of the Lender Finance division of Wells Fargo Capital Finance.   “We look forward to supporting Jon Wright and his company’s senior management team in its plans for the successful growth of their business.”

“We are in the early stages of seeing meaningful debt funding return to the hotel industry,” said Jon S. Wright (top left photo), president and CEO of Access Point.

 “At this stage of the rebound, only the most experienced lenders and hoteliers are active, and we applaud Wells Fargo for its continued leadership in the hotel industry. 

“This infusion from  Wells Fargo Capital Finance, along with continued improvements in the hotel economy, will help us accelerate and facilitate the much needed flow of capital to the hotel industry. 

“This credit facility will allow us to further execute our growth plans and achieve our initial target of placing $1 billion in loans in our first three years.” 

Access Point is a direct lender providing loans starting from $200,000 for CapEx up to $40 million for brand sponsored construction programs.  Hotels that are executing renovation programs also can combine low-leveraged first mortgages with Access Point’s capital expenditure financing.  


In addition to sourcing new funding, Access Point recently was awarded Platinum status by the IHG Owners Association, and was appointed as an Associate Member of the Association of Starwood Franchisees and Owners North America (ASFONA) with Jon Wright serving as an Honorary Board Member.  


For more information on the companies above, please visit wellsfargocapitalfinance.com; www.owners.org  or contact 770-604-5555;


Contact:

Jerry Daly, Chris Daly
(703) 435-6293

 Patrick Daly
Account Supervisor
Daly Gray, Inc.
Office:  (703) 435-6293
Cell:  (703) 300-8289


Kevin Johnson Joins Invest Atlanta; Veteran Economic Developer to Help Fill Project Pipeline




ATLANTA, GA (Jan. 30, 2012) – Invest Atlanta said today Kevin Johnson (top right photo), a 25-year veteran of the economic development industry, has joined the organization as a senior advisor for economic development.

Working closely with Bill Cronin (top left photo) , vice president of economic development, Johnson will help fill Invest Atlanta’s project pipeline.

Johnson has more than 25 years of experience in economic development, most recently as vice president of economic development at St. Joe Co., Florida’s largest real estate developer.

He also has held positions as vice president of business development for the Research Triangle Foundation and vice president of business development for the Greater Phoenix Economic Council. No stranger to Georgia, Johnson also served as president of the Athens Area Chamber of Commerce. 

“Kevin’s extensive experience and large professional network adds a key dimension to our team,” Cronin said. “ A track record of success in cities such as Raleigh-Durham and Phoenix brings a fresh perspective to help attract new development and jobs to Atlanta.”

A certified economic developer, Johnson is actively involved in economic development education, mentoring and has served on the board of directors of the International Economic Development Council.

“Atlanta has an incredible story to tell on several fronts,” Johnson said. “I look forward to telling the story and helping attract investment in Atlanta and new jobs to our city.”

Johnson, originally from Myrtle Beach, S.C. received his degree from South Carolina State University. He now resides in Atlanta with his wife and two children.

 Invest Atlanta (formerly Atlanta Development Authority) is the official economic development authority for the City of Atlanta. Its purpose is to increase opportunity and prosperity for the people of Atlanta by strengthening its economy and global competitiveness. 

(Atlanta Fashion Mall, lower left photo)


Chaired by the Mayor of Atlanta, and governed by a nine-member board of directors, Invest Atlanta’s programs and initiatives focus on developing and fostering public/private partnerships to create jobs, grow the economy, revitalize neighborhoods, attract investment, spur innovation, and encourage entrepreneurship.

To achieve these goals, Invest Atlanta leverages the benefits of bond financing, revolving loan funds, housing financing, tax increment financing (TIF), and tax credits.




 For more information on how Invest Atlanta can provide solutions for you or your business, contact us at: 404-880-4100, or visit us at: www.InvestAtlanta.com.

To get the latest updates, follow us on Twitter@InvestAtlanta, and Like us on Facebook.

Contact:
Tony Wilbert,

Commercial Asset Partners closes $294K medical sale to dentist in Trinity, FL




Trinity, FL (Jan. 30, 2012) – In an indication of the demand for medical office space in the Trinity area of Pasco County, Commercial Asset Partners (CAP) Realty closed the sale of a 3,280-square-foot office condo in Trinity Professional Center (top left photo) to a pediatric dentist.

The space, sold for $294,350, is located at 8804 Hawbuck Street in Trinity.

Carol Kinnard (top right photo) of CAP represented the seller, RKL Investments, LLC. Diane Weldon (middle left photo) of Coldwell Banker Action Realty represented the buyer, pediatric dentist Dr. Christopher Eric Chuong.

Dr. Chuong, new to the Trinity area, purchased half of the 6,560-square-foot building, making it 100 percent occupied. The office condo unit was a gray shell requiring a build-out analysis and interior construction for the buyer.

In an area that was previously vacant ranch land, the demand for medical office space has been increasing, tied to the construction of the Medical Center of Trinity, a hospital owned by HCA Healthcare. The hospital, slated to open in February, is moving from its previous location in New Port Richey, Fla.

“Since the Medical Center of Trinity announced that it is entering the area, we’ve seen an increase in commercial activity,” said Kinnard. “We’re seeing an especially large interest in medical office sales and leasing.”

Kinnard, who holds the Associated Medical Office Expert (AMO) certification, specializes in the sales and leasing of medical office space and is well-versed on the unique requirements for certain specialty practices.

CAP also recently completed the following office lease transactions in the Tampa Bay area:

·            Apollidon Learning, a provider of marketing and student recruitment for distance education masters degrees, expanded their space at Bay Arbor Place at 3689 Tampa Road in Oldsmar, Fla. Heidi Tuttle-Beisner, Broker-Owner at CAP Realty, worked as a transactional broker and facilitated the deal.

Stillpoint Capital, a financial management and advisory company, leased 2,000 square feet in the 3,500-square-foot professional building at 13051 W. Linebaugh Avenue in Tampa. Theresa Margaris (middle right photo) of CAP Realty worked as transactional broker and facilitated the deal. The entire transaction was completed in less than 45 days.

·            CSDVRS, LLC, a national company providing video conferencing services for the deaf community, leased 3,000 square feet at 1038 E. Brandon Blvd. in Brandon. The tenant was represented by Paula Clair Smith, CCIM, of CAP Realty and the landlord, NextGen Realty, LLC was represented by Bruce Demers of Doyle & McGrath Real Estate out of Lutz.

Sunfield Homes, Inc. leased 2,600 square feet in a 31,000-square-foot office park at 8139 State Road 54 in Trinity. Heidi Tuttle-Beisner (lower left photo) worked as a transactional broker and facilitated the deal.

One of the top mid-sized commercial real estate companies in the Tampa Bay area, CAP Realty handles leasing and sales of retail, office and industrial properties, along with helping clients with real estate investment sales and land transactions.

Based in Trinity, Fla., Broker-Owner Heidi Tuttle-Beisner and her team have built a company that has the experience and resources to handle a wide range of assignments, while offering a high level of personal service for each client.

For more information, see the company’s website at www.cap-realty.com.


Contact:
Leah Saunders
Account Executive
25 Second Street North | Suite 220 | St Pete, FL 33701
o 727.895.5030 x104 | c 813.924.0367

Saturday, January 28, 2012

High-Priced Condominium Sales Slump in Coral Gables, FL Ends With Sale of Home Listed for $6 Million



MIAMI, FL  /PRNewswire/ -- Although an absolute auction was planned Friday for an ultra-luxury waterfront condominium in Coral Gables, Florida, there won't be any bidders in attendance.

The seller did not get cold feet, and there was plenty of bidder interest. Enough interest, actually, that the property was placed under contract on Wednesday, two days prior to the January 27 auction date.

Platinum Luxury Auctions LLC, a luxury auction firm headquartered in Miami, Florida, handled the sale.

The buyer, a retired area business mogul who is downsizing from his waterfront estate, wanted to purchase the property outright rather than compete for it at the auction.

The residence was listed for $5.995 million prior to being scheduled for luxury auction. Although the contract price was not known at press time, Trayor Lesnock (top right photo), president of Platinum Luxury Auctions, stated that the price was "significant."

The sale was no small achievement: there had not been a single sale for a condominium above $3 million dollars in the cities of Coral Gables or Coconut Grove since August of 2010, despite plenty of inventory listed for sale from $3 million to $10 million, making competition for luxury buyers fierce.

Within the last 12 months, the average sale price in these cities for a luxury condominium that was listed above $1 million hovered near the $1.5 million mark.

"Despite fielding inquiries from all over the world for this auction, we are pleased to have placed this property under contract prior to the auction event," said Lesnock. "The agents in Coral Gables are world-class real estate professionals, and everyone has been aggressively searching for this caliber of buyer for their listing. The auction succeeded in finding him."

Within 5 weeks, the auction's marketing program generated over 11,000 hits to the property's auction website from 54 countries. According to Lesnock, a number of serious bidders had registered for the auction and placed $200,000 into escrow, as the auction terms required.

"The goal of the auction process was to sell the property, and I'm very pleased with the outcome," said P.R. Steinfurth, CEO of real estate investment firm The Styles Group and the seller of the property. The sale should close in February.

Contact  Traynor Lesnock, +1-305-744-5220


Friday, January 27, 2012

NAI Realvest Closes Lease Deals in Apopka, FL and Sanford, FL


Michael Heidrich Team of Father and Son Negotiates New Lease for 7,200 SF at Apopka Industrial Center

 MAITLAND, FL – NAI Realvest recently negotiated a new lease agreement that includes an option for the tenant to buy the property at 2325 Clark St. in Apopka.

 NAI Realvest principal Michael Heidrich (top left photo) assisted his son, Michael Heidrich, Jr. (top right photo), a new associate at the firm, in negotiating the lease of the 7,200 square foot facility on behalf of the tenant, Avery Holdings, LLC of Colorado Springs, Colo.   

It’s the first closed transaction for Michael Heidrich, Jr. who just joined NAI Realvest in the fourth quarter of last year. 

 The landlord, RJP Properties LLC of Tavares was represented by Robby Robinson of Florida Site Selectors.

For more information,  contact:

Michael Heidrich, Jr. Associate, NAI Realvest 407-875-9989 mheidrichjr@realvest.com
Michael Heidrich, Principal NAI Realvest, 407-875-9989,  mheidrich@realvest.com;
Patrick Mahoney, President, NAI Realvest 407-875-9989,  pmahoney@realvest.com 
Beth Payan, Larry Vershel Communications, 407-644-4142,  lvershelco@aol.com  


  
NAI Realvest Negotiates Lease for 3,000 SF at Industrial facility in Sanford, FL

 MAITLAND, FL – NAI Realvest recently negotiated a lease agreement for 3,000 square feet of industrial space at 3665 Delphini Way in the Delphini Airport Industrial Park North in Sanford off Lake Mary Blvd.

 NAI Realvest associate Sean DuPree (lower right photo), CCIM brokered the transaction representing

the landlord, Delphini Industrial Park at Northstar LLC. of Altamonte Springs and the new tenant Conifer, LLC,  a local manufacturer. 

For more information,  contact  

Sean DuPree, CCIM, NAI Realvest 407-875-9989; sdupree@realvest.com;   
Patrick Mahoney, President, NAI Realvest 407-875-9989,  pmahoney@realvest.com;  
Beth Payan, Larry Vershel Communications, 407-644-4142, lvershelco@aol.com  

Chatham Lodging Announces Fourth Quarter Earnings Call to be Held Feb. 23



 PALM BEACH, FL, Jan.  27, 2012 - Chatham Lodging Trust (NYSE: CLDT), a hotel real estate investment trust (REIT) focused on upscale extended-stay hotels and premium-branded select-service hotels, today announced that it will report fourth quarter 2011 financial results on Wednesday, February 22, 2012, following the close of the market.

 On Thursday, February 23, 2012, at 10 a.m. ET, Jeffrey H. Fisher (top right photo), Chatham’s chief executive officer, and Dennis M. Craven, its chief financial officer, will host a conference call to review fourth quarter 2011 financial results.

Shareholders and other interested parties may listen to a simultaneous webcast of the conference call on the Internet by logging onto Chatham’s Web site, http://www.chathamlodgingtrust.com/, or http://www.streetevents.com/, or may participate in the conference call by calling 1-877-941-8631, reference number 4511083.
 
  A recording of the call will be available by telephone until midnight on Thursday, March 1, 2012, by dialing 1-800-406-7325, reference number 4511083. 

A replay of the conference call will be posted on Chatham’s website.

 Additional information about Chatham may be found at www.chathamlodgingtrust.com.

Contact:    

Jerry Daly, Carol McCune                    Dennis Craven
Daly Gray Public Relations                   Chief Financial Officer
(Media)                                                   (Company)
jerry@dalygray.com                              dcraven@cl-trust.com
(703) 435-6293                                      (561) 227-1386              



Del Webb Stone Creek to Host Community Event Feb. 11 with Live Band, Food and Drinks



 OCALA, Fla. – Del Webb Stone Creek in Ocala will host a community event with food and drinks and a live band Saturday, Feb. 11, at the Stone Creek model park 6320 SW 89th Court Rd. in Ocala.

 The event is free and open to the public.

 Sean Strickler (lower right photo) vice president of sales for Del Webb in the north Florida region, said the event, scheduled for 1 to 4 p.m. will include tours of 11 model homes at Del Webb Stone Creek along with plenty of food and beverages and prizes, including AMC, Shell Gas and Visa gift cards.

Del Webb sells single family homes and twin villas at Del Webb Stone Creek that range in size from 1,157 square feet of living space to 2,611 square feet.

 One of the largest Del Webb communities in the U.S., Del Webb Stone Creek features the Reflection Bay and Elan Spa community clubhouses and 29 acre gardens along with its own 18-hole championship golf course and the Stone Creek Grille, a favorite of the residents.

  For more information, visit delwebb.com/stonecreek or call 877-333-5932.


Contacts: 

 Jennifer Hendry, Marketing Coordinator, PulteGroup North Florida Division, 904-217-0005, jennifer.hendry@pulte.com;  
Lyndsey Patterson, Director of Marketing PulteGroup North Florida Divisions, 407-661-2150 ext 1416 2301 Lucien Way, Suite 400, Maitland, FL 32751; lyndsey.patterson@pultegroup.com;
Sean C. Strickler, Vice President Sales, PulteGroup/North Florida, 407-661-1461 sean.strickler@pultegroup.com;    
Larry Vershel or Beth Payan, Larry Vershel Communications 407-644-4142 lvershelco@aol.com   



Acquisition of NAI Global by C-III Capital Partners is Complete; Central Florida affiliate NAI Realvest to benefit from acquisition

  

 MAITLAND, FL, Jan. 27, 2011   — NAI Global, the largest network of independent commercial real estate firms worldwide, announced that its previously reported acquisition by C-III Capital Partners LLC (C-III) has been completed.

Financial terms of the NAI Global acquisition were not disclosed.

“We’re very excited about the opportunities this transaction will provide.  NAI Realvest will continue to be the largest independently-owned full service real estate firm in this area, but this partnership with C-III will make us even more competitive both nationally and internationally”, said Patrick Mahoney (top right photo), president.

 The transaction will help create a leading fully integrated commercial property services company that will operate in markets around the world. Locally based NAI Realvest is the central Florida representative of NAI Global.

C-III is a leading commercial real estate services company engaged in a broad range of activities, including primary and special loan servicing, loan origination, fund management, CDO management, principal investment, title services and multifamily property management.

 C-III is led by chief executive officer Andrew L. Farkas (middle left photo), who founded and was Chairman and CEO of Insignia Financial Group, Inc. (NYSE:IFS). Its principal place of business is located in Irving, TX, and it has additional offices in New York, New York; Greenville, South Carolina; McLean, Virginia; Chicago, Illinois; Dallas, Texas and Nashville, Tennessee.

“The completion of this transaction represents a significant step forward in our strategy to build a fully diversified commercial real estate services company,” said Mr. Farkas.

 “With the NAI Global acquisition, we are gaining the world’s leading commercial real estate network and a tremendous foundation for future growth. As we begin a new year, we look forward to partnering with the NAI team to provide enhanced services to the commercial and institutional real estate markets they serve as well as continuing to take advantage of other opportunities to grow and expand our platform.”

 “We are thrilled to be joining forces with C-III and excited about the opportunity to deliver an even broader range of services to our members and add greater value to our collective corporate and investment clients. We look forward to tapping into their extensive resources and expertise to assist all of our clients in strategically optimizing their commercial real estate assets,” said Jeffrey M. Finn, (lower left photo) president and chief executive officer of NAI Global.


 Contact:
Patrick Mahoney,
 President
NAI Realvest
Tel: 407-875-9989