Thursday, June 4, 2015

RealtyTrac Announces Addition of Veteran Online Ad Sales Director Lesley Churchill


Lesley Churchill
 IRVINE, CA  — RealtyTrac® (www.realtytrac.com), the nation’s leading source for comprehensive housing data, announced today the recent appointment of sales executive Lesley Churchill as Director of Online Ad Sales.

 In this role, Lesley is tasked with expanding the online ad sales revenue and market share for the company.

Most recently she worked at Time Inc. where she exceeded revenue goals by more than 30 percent within the first year.  Previously, she worked with the executive team at Local Corporation, a local search and advertising technology company to help launch the company’s ad network Fusion where she was responsible for national advertising.

Additionally, she worked with the Wall Street Journal Office Network, where she served as Southwest Sales Director and the Business Journals where she grew her territory by 75 percent, The San Jose Business Journal, where she received the company’s highest sales award as top local producer and the San Francisco Business Times, where she received the company’s award for the largest increase in sales year-over-year. 

For a complete copy of the company’s news release, please contact:

Ginny Walker
949.502.8300, ext. 268

George Smith Partners Grows Leadership Team: Names Three New Principals


Bryan Shaffer
LOS ANGELES, CA (June 4, 2015) – National commercial real estate investment banking firm George Smith Partners has named three new Principals for the firm. 

The three new Principals, Bryan Shaffer, Jonathan Lee and Shahin Yazdi, join the firms existing Principals Steve Bram, Gary E. Mozer, David Rifkind, Gary M. Tenzer and Malcolm Davies.

“Our diverse and innovative structuring expertise, as well as our deep lender knowledge and relationships, enable us to customize financing for property ranging from $3 million to $350 million, including highly leveraged participating debt and joint venture equity,” notes Gary Tenzer, one of the founding Principals.

 “Bryan, Jonathan and Shahin have proven themselves to be an integral part of our success, contributing to the more than $2.15 billion in financing we arranged throughout the United States in the last year.  They also embody the standards of uncompromising diligence and ethics we set for ourselves.”

Jonathan Lee
According to Tenzer, the three new Principals each bring expertise and drive that assists George Smith Partners in the growth of its national platform, as well as in its philanthropic commitment. 

The firm currently supports more than 40 philanthropic organizations, in addition to academic and industry organizations.

Principal Bryan Shaffer

Industry Veteran Bryan Shaffer, who joined George Smith Partners in 2011, brings more than 20 years of industry experience to his new role as Principal at the firm.

Shaffer has closed more than $4 billion in financing throughout his career. During his time at George Smith Partners, Shaffer has arranged structured financing for multifamily and commercial properties, including acquisition, refinance, construction, bridge and permanent loans, mezzanine and participating debt, and joint venture equity.

   

Shahin Yazdi

Principal Jonathan Lee

Lee joined George Smith Partners more than a decade ago in 2005, and has since arranged more than $1 billion in financing. He has a noted expertise in both ground-up development financing, as well as stabilized permanent financing.


Principal Shahin Yazdi

The youngest Principal to ever join George Smith Partners, at age 32 Yazdi brings a decade of experience in commercial real estate, and has served the firm for more than eight years, since joining George Smith Partners in 2007.

During his tenure with the firm, Yazdi has worked locally, regionally and nationally, securing financing across all properties types and classes, as well as working with many types of lenders, including CMBS, Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, insurance companies, and portfolio lenders.  

For a complete copy of the company’s news release, please contact:
Corynne Randel/ Jenn Quader
Brower, Miller & Cole

(949) 955-7940

CBRE Closes $29 Million Sale of Laguna Oaks Apartments in Orlando, FL


Shelton Granade
Orlando, FL – June 1, 2015 – CBRE’s Shelton Granade, Luke Wickham, and Justin Basquill
arranged the sale of Laguna Oaks, a 360-unit gated community in Orlando, Florida.

Located at 3211 S. Semoran Blvd., the lakeside property was acquired from Ram Realty Services by Avesta Communities for $29.15 million. CBRE exclusively represented the seller in the
transaction.

“The Laguna Oaks sale was very competitively bid and speaks to the demand for infill, value-add
offerings in Orlando,” said Mr. Granade, Executive Vice President of CBRE Capital
Markets, Multifamily. 

“This asset has tremendous visibility and a unique location on the lake, and new ownership can realize increased returns through comprehensive interior renovations and amenity improvements.”

For a complete copy of the company’s news release, please contact:

Elizabeth Cross or
 Melinda Sherwood
+1 305 428 6373 +1 305 381 6453

Heritage Harbor Ottawa Resort Breaks Ground on Cottages at River Row Neighborhood and West Peninsula Pool in Ottawa, IL


Rendering of Cottages at River Row, Ottawa, IL
 OTTAWA, IL – Heritage Harbor Ottawa Resort, a marina resort community on the Illinois River in Ottawa, Ill., within Starved Rock Country, announces it has broken ground on the Cottages at River Row, a new pocket neighborhood of single-family homes and duplex residences surrounding a new community pool on the resort’s West Peninsula.

Located just 90 minutes southwest of Chicago, Heritage Harbor Ottawa is a 142-acre master-planned development of single-family homes, townhomes, vacation cottages, carriage homes and condos, centered on a 32-acre harbor and full-service marina.

With its offering of boating amenities, waterfront living, and nearby recreational opportunities such as Starved Rock State Park and the I&M Canal Trail, the community offers a resort lifestyle for those seeking a vacation, retirement or full-time residence in this region.

For a complete copy of the company’s news release, please contact:

Sarah Lyons, slyons@taylorjohnson.com, (312) 267-4520

 Kim Manning, kmanning@taylorjohnson.com, (312) 267-4527

Construction Complete, Model Homes Open at Alexan Auburn Lakes In Houston, TX


Barbara J. Gaffen

CHICAGO, IL – Northbrook, Ill.-based Prime Property Investors (PPI) has announced that construction at Alexan Auburn Lakes, a newly built 346-unit luxury apartment community in Houston, is complete and includes two fully decorated model homes open to tour.

Located along West Rayford and Gosling roads, Alexan Auburn Lakes is nestled in a serene setting among native hardwood trees with its own private lake. 

In the fall of 2013, PPI partnered with Dallas-based Trammell Crow Residential (TCR) to develop the 12.5-acre gated community situated at the edge of The Woodlands.

“Completing construction at Alexan Auburn Lakes and opening model homes to tour is such an exciting milestone for us,” said Barbara J. Gaffen, co-CEO of PPI. “We have enjoyed seeing the community go from being blueprints to being a ‘home.’

“Renters have been drawn to the uniqueness of Alexan Auburn Lakes. The community offers residents more of a resort-like lifestyle that is reflected in the architecture and design of the buildings, clubhouse and surrounding grounds, not to mention the property’s full suite of amenities meant to enhance and complement residents’ daily lives,” added Gaffen.

For a complete copy of the company’s news release, please contact:

Kelly Shumaker kshumaker@taylorjohnson.com, (312) 267-4519

Emily Johnson, ejohnson@taylorjohnson.com, (312) 267-4522

Crossman & Co. welcomes Immunotek Bio Centers and Furniture Liquidator USA to Plaza on Main



Rochelle DuBrule
Orlando, F– Plaza on Main welcomes two new tenants, Immunotek Bio Centers and Furniture Liquidator USA to the 93,988 square-foot shopping center.

The shopping center is located at 1700 N. Main Street in Kissimmee, near the historic downtown Kissimmee shopping district. Notable tenants include Save-A-Lot, Family Dollar, Bennett Auto Supply and Rent-A-Center.

Crossman & Company’s Leasing Associate, Rochelle DuBrule co-brokered the Immunotek Bio Centers leasing deal with Donald McLaughlin of Hyland Realty.

“Immunotek Bio Centers and Furniture Liquidator USA are fantastic additions to Plaza on Main,” said Bruce Lyons, one of the owners for Plaza on Main.

For more available leasing opportunities at Plaza on Main, contact Rochelle at (407) 581-6248 or via email at rdubrule@crossmanco.com.

For a complete copy of the company’s news release, please contact:

Sydnie Cobb
Crossman & Company

407.581.6261

Stirling Sotheby’s International Realty Names Angel Prado Global Real Estate Advisor at Lake Nona, FL Marketing Center



Angel Prado
ORLANDO, FL --- Stirling Sotheby’s International Realty has named Angel Prado a Global Real Estate Advisor at its Lake Nona Marketing Center on Narcoossee Rd. in the Lake Nona Plaza.

Roger Soderstrom, founder and owner at Stirling Sotheby’s International Realty, said Prado has been in real estate more than a year focusing on the Lake Nona, Baldwin Park, Celebration and attractions areas of Orlando. 

Prado who was born in Puerto Rico, grew up in Orlando and witnessed the evolution of one of the largest tourist destinations in the world. 

Prior to starting a real estate career, Prado was an administrator with Aon Hewitt handling risk, reinsurance and administered benefits for Fortune 500 companies.  He currently attends Keiser University and is working on a B.A. in International Business and Trade.

“Angel has a vast knowledge of the Orlando market and we are excited to see how his skills come into play with his role in our expansion in the Lake Nona region,” Soderstrom said.

For a complete copy of the company’s news release, please contact:

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


Wednesday, June 3, 2015

Steak Master Chef Hans Aeschbacher Celebrates 25 Years of Culinary Excellence


Chef Hans Aeschbacher
Taipei — Continuing the year-long culinary celebration of its 25th anniversary, The Sherwood Taipei welcomes back Chef Hans Aeschbacher, the world-renowned chef from Chicago who has led some of the top steakhouses, including Chicago Cut Steakhouse and Smith & Wollensky.

 In 2007, The Sherwood Taipei teamed up with Chef Hans to be the first hotel in Taiwan to introduce the U.S. premium dry-aged gourmet steak concept. 

From July 8 – August 31, Chef Hans will be in-residence at The Sherwood Taipei showcasing U.S. dry-aged steak at TOSCANA and American-style barbecue festival at B-One Buffet Restaurant.  

The Chef Hans visit is one of a series of special culinary events to honor The Sherwood Taipei’s 25-year tradition of exceptional epicurean experiences and innovation.

“We are honored and delighted to welcome Chef Hans back to The Sherwood Taipei,” said Achim v. Hake, General Manager, The Sherwood Taipei. 

For a complete copy of the company’s news release, please contact:

Hwee Peng Yeo
Vice President, Asia Markets
Glodow Nead Communications
San Francisco • New York • Singapore • Shanghai
Level 21, Centennial Tower, 3 Temasek Avenue • Singapore 039190
1700 Montgomery Street, Suite 203 • San Francisco, CA • 94111
Asia: 65.9768.6087  US:415.394.6500 • E: hweepeng@glodownead.com
 https://www.facebook.com/GlodowNead?ref=mf https://twitter.com/GlodowNead http://weibo.com/glodownead

West Hartford, CT Apartment Property Sells for $12.8 Million; Northeast Private Client Group Represents Buyer and Seller


David Almeida

SHELTON, CT – Investment sales broker Northeast Private Client Group has announced the sale of Brookstone Court Apartments, a 160-unit multifamily property located in West Hartford, CT.

David Almeida, senior associate in the firm’s Connecticut office, and Bradley Balletto, the firm’s regional manager, represented the seller and the buyer in the $12,800,000 transaction, which closed on April 30. 

“The success of this transaction is the direct result of our relationship approach to investment sales,” said Edward Jordan, JD, CCIM, the firm’s managing director.  “With our regional brokerage platform, we were able to create tremendous competition for this asset among highly qualified buyers from Boston to New York."

Brookstone Court Apartments comprises 10 garden-style apartment buildings situated on Hillcrest Avenue and Steven Street in  West Hartford, CT.  

Bradley Balletto
Built in 1953, the complex has 160 total units in 10 buildings.  The seller, Harvest Apartments, is a Connecticut- based national multifamily operator.  

The buyer, Detail Management, purchased the property for a price that equates to nearly $80,000 per unit, which represents a capitalization rate of 6.94% on the current net operating income.

“High occupancy and growing rents continue to drive strong demand for apartment properties,” said Mr. Balletto.  “Multifamily investments continue to outperform nearly all other asset types.”

For a complete copy of the company’s news release, please contact:

Randy Savicky
Founder/CEO
Strategy+Communications
Connecting the New PR & Marketing to Business Goals

203-226-6156

Easton & Associates Announces Nearly 130,000 SF of Industrial Leases in Miami-Dade County, FL


Jim Armstrong

Doral, FL — Easton & Associates, the commercial real estate brokerage division of The Easton Group, brokered the following industrial leases:    

-Miatex Corp. renewed a lease for 56,000 sq. ft. at 7801 NW 67th Street, #130 and 6700 77th Court, #2 in Miami.  The landlord is SPG NW 77th Court LLC. The transaction was brokered by Jim Armstrong and Mike Waite.

-Florida Fence Distributors, Inc. signed a new lease for 22,000 sq. ft.  of industrial space at  7820 NW 74th Street in Medley.    The landlord is Easton/Levi Associates. The transaction was handled by Tom Kimen.

-Tuuci, LLC renewed a lease for 20, 075 sq. ft. at 2950 NW 35th Street in Miami. The landlord is LZG LLC. Tom Kimen brokered the transaction on behalf of Easton & Associates.

-Refricenter of Miami, Inc. renewed its lease for 20, 000 sq. ft. at 27 NE 179 Street, North Miami Beach. The landlord is 57 NE 179 Street LLC.  The transaction was handled by Jim Armstrong and Mike Waite of Easton & Associates.

Atlantic Rack and Shelving, Inc. leased 11, 500 SF of industrial space at 5205 NW 161 Street, Miami Gardens.  The Landlord is Seagis PLIP LLC.  Jim Armstrong and Mike Waite handled the transaction.   

For a complete copy of the company’s news release, please contact:

Todd Templin
Boardroom Communications

954-370-8999/954-290-0810

City of Tustin, CA Executes Exclusive Negotiation Agreement for Cornerstone I with Lincoln Property Co.


Tustin, CA City Manager Jeff Parker
Tustin, CA  (June 3, 2015) – The City of Tustin has now entered into an Exclusive Negotiation Agreement with Lincoln Property Company (Lincoln), a Dallas-based real estate developer with Southern California offices, to pursue development for Cornerstone I at Tustin Legacy.

The proposed creative office campus would be built on 37 acres of land at the southwest edge of Tustin Legacy, a master-planned community. 

Based on a proposal presented to Tustin by Lincoln, approximately 760,000 square feet of creative office space is proposed along with almost 100,000 square feet of support uses, a food hall, supporting retail, outdoor meeting and gathering spaces, as well as structured and surface parking.

“We interviewed a number of qualified development firms but believe that Lincoln best shares our vision for Cornerstone I,” said Jeff Parker, Tustin City Manager.

“They bring a strong track record for developing the kind of commercial projects that meet the evolving needs of today’s innovative and dynamic firms. New office development at Cornerstone I will add to the unique opportunity we have at Tustin Legacy to create a strong jobs base and bring about greater economic investment in the City of Tustin.”

For a complete copy of the company’s news release, please contact:

Darcie Giacchetto for Tustin Legacy
(949) 278-6224

  

WNC’s Community Preservation Partners Joint Venture Acquires Northgate Terrace in Oakland, CA


Anand Kannan
OAKLAND, CA – June 3, 2015 – WNC, a national investor in real estate and community development initiatives, announced today that its subsidiary, Community Preservation Partners LLC, has acquired Northgate Terrace, a 201-unit affordable senior housing community in Oakland, Calif., in a joint venture with Related Affordable LLC, for $27.5 million.

The joint venture will perform a complete renovation of the existing property, originally constructed in 1969 with a HUD 202 loan.

The project is expected to cost approximately $47 million to complete, including acquisition and renovation. 

“This project required unique financing that included prepayment of the existing HUD loan under a preservation transaction, and the agency’s acceptance of the revaluation of the property to market rate,” said Anand Kannan, president of WNC’s Community Preservation Partners, LLC. “This enabled the joint venture to secure the financing required to properly rehabilitate and maintain this community as part of the nation’s desperately needed affordable housing inventory.”

For a complete copy of the company’s news release, please contact:

Julie Leber
Spotlight Marketing Communications
949.427.5172, ext. 703

BankUnited Sets Sights on Growth in Central Florida; Expands Commercial Real Estate and Business Lending Teams


Steven Markowski
MIAMI LAKES, FL – BankUnited announced two key new hires in Orlando, making the bank’s Central Florida commercial real estate finance team its largest in Florida, while expanding its corporate banking team just one year after the market launch of its wholesale banking division.

“We see room for growth in Orlando and Central Florida as the region continues to broaden its base of business beyond tourism and hospitality into a more fully-integrated economic spectrum of businesses,” said Thomas Cornish, state president of Florida.

 “Orlando is a priority market for BankUnited as we look to grow our portfolio in this region from $600 million to the billion dollar range within a couple of years.”

Steven Markowski of Winter Park has been named senior vice president for commercial real estate lending.

Ted Kunkel of Windermere has been named vice president of business lending.

Ted Kunkel
Also joining Kunkel as his assistant is Lisa Sitterly.

“Steven and Ted join an already strong BankUnited team of CRE lenders and commercial bankers here in Orlando, and we look forward to the vital role they will play as we expand our corporate and commercial real estate banking services in the market,” said Michael McClanahan, Orlando market executive.

Markowski, Kunkel and Sitterly will be based at BankUnited’s Downtown Orlando corporate office, 189 South Orange Avenue, Suite 1250.

For more information call (877) 779-2265 or visit www.BankUnited.com

For a complete copy of the company’s news release, please contact:

Amy Hoffman
Pierson Grant Public Relations
6301 Northwest 5th Way  Suite 2600
Fort Lauderdale, FL  33309
v. (954) 776-1999  ext. 228
f. (954) 776-0290

Capital Square Realty Advisors Expands Finance Team With Four New Hires


Adam Levinson
 RICHMOND, VA – Capital Square Realty Advisors, LLC announced that Adam Levinson, a 15-year finance veteran who has participated in the capitalization of more than $6 billion of investment real estate, joined the company as strategic advisor of finance. Levinson will underwrite debt for Capital Square’s DST 1031 exchange programs and assist with other underwriting and financial analytics.

Seasoned professionals, Andrew Foster, Caroline Greber and Laura Mouser, also join Capital Square, as senior accountant, investor relations closing administrator and administrative accounting assistant, respectively.  

As Capital Square continues to expand, the addition of four professionals will continue to strengthen the management of Capital Square Realty Advisors’ growing real estate portfolio, which currently totals more than $275 million of healthcare, multifamily, retail, parking and manufactured housing properties across 13 states.

Andrew Foster
“Since our founding in 2012, Capital Square Realty Advisors has grown tremendously and we have been fortunate to add exceptional talent to the team along the way to better serve our investors,” said Louis Rogers, founder and chief executive officer of Capital Square Realty Advisors.

“Adam is a recognized expert in the financial arena, with invaluable experience. He, along with Andrew, Caroline and Laura, strengthen Capital Square Realty Advisors.  I am very pleased to welcome them to the Capital Square family.”

Levinson serves as senior managing director of Newmark Grubb Knight Frank’s Real Estate Finance Group. Responsible for identifying capital on behalf of his clients, he accesses capital markets seeking for all types of debt, including highly structured debt facilities that address the needs of his clients. 

With a bachelor’s in business from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, he has arranged more than $6 billion of debt financing for a variety of asset classes. Levinson is a member of the Real Estate Investment Association and the Chicago Real Estate Council.

Caroline Greber
Foster has more than 16 years of accounting experience, most recently working as an accountant and treasury analyst for a hospital management company where he managed assets and handled treasury and banking responsibilities for 11 medical facilities. He earned a bachelor’s degree in entrepreneurship and small business management, as well as a bachelor’s in accounting from Eastern Michigan University.

Greber has over 15 years of experience in residential real estate as a licensed title insurance underwriter, mortgage underwriter and settlement agent. Prior to her real estate career, she was also a legal assistant for more than 15 years with Prentice Hall Legal and Financial Services.

Mouser joins Capital Square Realty Advisors after serving as an accounts payable specialist with a local Richmond manufacturing company. She brings more than 15 years of experience working with the local business community to Capital Square.

Laura Mouser


Capital Square Realty Advisors, LLC specializes in the creation and management of commercial real estate investment programs for Section 1031 exchange investors and other investors using the Delaware Statutory Trust structure.

 Louis J. Rogers, founder and chief executive officer of Capital Square Realty Advisors, has been involved in the creation and management of more than 100 investment offerings totaling over $3 billion, including DST, tenant-in-common, numerous real estate funds, and multiple publicly registered non-traded real estate investment trusts.

For a complete copy of the company’s news release, please contact:

Julie Leber                                                                         
 Spotlight Marketing Communications                    
 949.427.5172, ext. 703                   

EagleBridge Capital Arranges $8.9 Million Mortgage for Boston Office Building and Norwood Industrial Building


33 Broad Street, Boston, MA
Boston, MA --  EagleBridge Capital, working exclusively on behalf of its client, has arranged permanent mortgage financing in the amount of $8,900,000 for 33 Broad Street, Boston, Massachusetts and 340-346 Vanderbilt Avenue, Norwood, Massachusetts. 

The mortgage financing was arranged by EagleBridge principals Ted. M. Sidel and Brian D. Sheehan who stated that the loan was provided by a leading financial institution.

33 Broad Street is an 11-story 40,500 square foot office building located in the heart of Boston’s Financial District. The building has been completely updated and is served by three elevators.  

The building is 100% leased.  State Street Eye Health and Expresso Love occupy the first floor retail space. 

  The upper floors are occupied by 17 office tenants including law firms, accountants, consultants, foundations, financial advisors, real estate developers, mortgage bankers, and money managers.

Ted M. Sidel

33 Broad Street was constructed in 1904.  The building style is early Twentieth Century Renaissance Revival and is included in the National Register of Historic Places as part of the Custom House District.  33 Broad Street was designed by the leading architectural firm of its day, Shepley, Rutan and Coolidge, the predecessor of the noted architectural firm Shepley Bullfinch Richardson and Abbott.

340-346 Vanderbilt Avenue is a 65,240 square foot multi-tenant industrial building located in the Park Place Industrial Park in Norwood.  The building is fully leased to 8 national and local tenants.

Brian D. Sheehan
EagleBridge Capital is a Boston-based mortgage banking firm specializing in arranging  debt and equity financing as well as joint ventures for industrial, office, and r & d buildings,  shopping centers, apartments, hotels, condominiums and mixed use properties as well as special purpose buildings.

For a complete copy of the company’s news release, please contact:

Ted Sidel

(617) 292-7177 EXT. 10