Monday, February 1, 2010

Grubb & Ellis|Commercial Florida negotiates new long-term renewal lease for 5,000 square feet at Metric Plaza in Winter Park

ORLANDO - Grubb & EllisCommercial Florida, associated with 130 offices worldwide, recently completed a long-term renewal agreement for 5,000 square feet at 4202-4208 Metric Drive in Metric Plaza, an office/flex development located off University Blvd. and S.R. 436 in Winter Park.

Robert Kellogg, CCIM vice president in the Office Services Group at Grubb & EllisCommercial Florida represented the tenant, Winter Park-based DMC Components International, LLC., who renewed the lease of suite 4202 for five years. The 16,000 square foot building which was built in 1985 is 100 percent leased.

The landlord, DA Metric LLC of Rahway, N.J., was represented by Tom McFadden of Southern Commercial Real Estate.
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About Grubb & EllisCommercial Florida:
Grubb & EllisCommercial Florida is an affiliated commercial real estate services firm specializing in the leasing and sale of office, industrial, retail, land and investment properties. Currently Grubb & EllisCommercial Florida has 40 brokers divided among its Orlando, Melbourne and Tampa offices to serve the entire mid-Florida marketplace.

About Grubb & Ellis:
Named to The Global Outsourcing 100™ in 2009 by the International Association of Outsourcing Professionals™, Grubb & Ellis Company (NYSE: GBE) is one of the largest and most respected commercial real estate services and investment companies in the world. Our 6,000 professionals in more than 130 company-owned and affiliate offices draw from a unique platform of real estate services, practice groups and investment products to deliver comprehensive, integrated solutions to real estate owners, tenants and investors. The firm’s transaction, management, consulting and investment services are supported by highly regarded proprietary market research and extensive local expertise. Through its investment subsidiaries, the company is a leading sponsor of real estate investment programs that provide individuals and institutions the opportunity to invest in a broad range of real estate investment vehicles, including public non-traded real estate investment trusts (REITs), tenant-in-common (TIC) investments suitable for tax-deferred 1031 exchanges, mutual funds and other real estate investment funds. For more information, visit www.grubb-ellis.com.

Contacts:
Grubb & EllisCommercial Florida, 315 E. Robinson St. Suite 555, Orlando, FL 32801, www.commercialfl.com;
Robert Kellogg, CCIM, 407-481-5408, rkellogg@commercialfl.com;
Jeff Sweeney, SIOR 407-481-5387

Stirling Sotheby’s International Realty Associate Earns EcoBroker Certified® Designation


ORLANDO - Dan Natoli of Stirling Sotheby‘s International Realty in Orlando, has earned the EcoBroker Certified® designation, having successfully completed an award-winning informative training program on the energy and environmental issues that affect real estate transactions.
Roger Soderstrom, founder and owner of Stirling Sotheby’s International Realty, said Natoli joins the movement of professionals pushing the real estate market toward energy-efficient, sustainable, and healthier features in homes and buildings. Today’s focus on high-performance energy-efficient homes is a priority for this type of high-quality real estate professional earning the EcoBroker Certified® designation.
EcoBrokers® like Natoli are serving as consumer and community resources on energy and environmental issues. With national surveys indicating that 9 out of 10 consumers consider energy efficiency and the environmentally sound aspects of a home to be almost as important as interior finishes, certified EcoBrokers® are simply in a better position to serve the savvy green-minded real estate consumer, Soderstrom said.
“My EcoBroker Certified® training helps me provide knowledge to my customers on anything from energy-efficient appliances to solar options to overall energy savings, Natoli said. “I now have more resources at my disposal to help buyers and sellers make informed real estate decisions. The EcoBroker Certified® designation doesn’t make me an energy and environmental expert, but it does enable me to recognize issues and convey information on the products and services available to buyers and sellers,” Natoli explained.
EcoBroker International’s premier designation program is designed exclusively for real estate professionals who care about the environment and want to help their clients benefit from the energy-efficiency, “green,” and healthier features of properties. The extensive curriculum of energy and environmental training requires participants to fulfill additional program requirements to become Certified EcoBrokers®, according to Dr. John Beldock, chief executive officer of EcoBroker International.
“Dan is an example of the quality real estate professional the EcoBroker Certified® designation continues to attract,” said Dr. Beldock. “These real estate professionals are not only distinguishing themselves in a competitive market place, but they are really giving back to the community in very constructive and meaningful ways. Central Florida needs more contributors like Dan Natoli. The planet and our grandchildren need them, too,” he said.
The program also teaches its members how best to market and position themselves for that competitive edge within the real estate platform. From the Global Gallery, Natoli said. “With EcoBroker’s training, I have broadened the range of real estate opportunities I offer my clients. I’m in a position to help. The real estate industry is forever changing and our nation faces complex environmental issues. To best serve my clients, I need to understand the newest products, technologies and issues as they affect today’s real estate market. My EcoBroker Certified® designation helps me stay ahead of the game.”
Natoli earned his EcoBroker Certified® designation in June and is wasting no time putting the tools and additional expertise to work. He’s already found that being an EcoBroker® creates added value that sets him apart from other agents. For example, at a recent listing presentation, Natoli was able to show the prospective sellers how he can highlight the benefits of energy-efficient insulation, environmental countertops and flooring, as well as the energy efficient window placement. Dan also suggested an inexpensive HERS Rating test. His innovative energy and environmental focus gave him an edge in winning the listing.
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For additional information please contact:
Dan Natoli, Stirling Sotheby’s International Realty 407-595-8395 Dnatoli@StirlingSIR.com;
EcoBroker International provides an award-winning energy and environmental curriculum to licensed real estate professionals, leading to the EcoBroker Certified® designation. EcoBroker International’s mission is to broaden and improve the base of training and continuing education for real estate professionals and, in doing so, encourage improvements to the quality of buildings while reducing the impact on natural resources and the environment. EcoBroker is a U.S. Department of Energy Building America partner and a Built GreenĂ’ Colorado Education Partner, the most successful green building program in the United States. EcoBroker provides state-approved continuing education courses to licensed real estate professionals in states throughout the United States. EcoBroker can be reached by phone at 1-800-706-4321, online at http://www.ecobroker.com/ and by email at customerservice@ecobroker.com.

Cuhaci & Peterson Architects Awarded Contract to Design Remodeling of Four Food Lion Stores in Virginia

ORLANDO - Cuhaci & Peterson Architects, LLC based in Orlando’s Baldwin Park, was recently awarded a contract to design renovations to four Food Lion supermarkets in Midlothian, Chester and Richmond, Virginia.

Jed Downs, president of Cuhaci & Peterson Architects, said each supermarket facility totals 35,000 squarer feet of retail space.
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For more information, contact:
Lonnie Peterson, Chairman Cuhaci & Peterson Architects, LLC, 407-661-9100
Jed Downs, President Cuhaci & Peterson Architects, LLC, 407-661-9100

Melrose-Sovereign Appoints Rebecca Shaffrey Vice President of Property Management in Multi-Family Division


ORLANDO - Melrose-Sovereign Companies, which ranks as one of the largest community management companies in Florida, recently appointed Rebecca Shaffrey vice president of property management for the firm’s multi-family division.

Ellen Lumpkin, LCAM, co-founder and partner at the firm with Jack Hanson, said Shaffrey has more than 20 years of experience in property management. She earned her B.A. Degree from St. Andrews Presbyterian College in Laurinburg, N.C., and completed graduate studies at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, Va.

Melrose-Sovereign Companies manages properties for more than 170 developers, investors and owners throughout Florida. The firm now has eight offices throughout the state.
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For more information contact:
Jack B. Hanson, LCAM, Partner/Co-founder, Melrose-Sovereign Companies, 407-228-4181, jhanson@melrose-sovereign.com;
Ellen G. Lumpkin, LCAM, Partner/Co-founder, Melrose-Sovereign Companies, 407-228-4181, elumpkin@melrose-sovereign.com

Mattamy Homes U.S. Group in Charlotte to Acquire 71 Home Sites at Belmont and South Point

CHARLOTTE - Mattamy Homes U.S. Group, the U.S. division of Canada’s largest home builder, recently contracted to acquire 71 home sites in Belmont at South Point Village, a new community located on South Point Road (S.R. 273) and McKee Farm Lane in Gaston County.

Bill Kiselick, president of Mattamy Homes U.S. Group in the Charlotte region, said the home builder plans to start construction of new three and four-bedroom single-family homes in the spring.

Kiselick said new homes in Belmont at South Point Village will range in size from 1,600 square feet of living space to 2,400 square feet priced from the $170s.
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For more information contact:
Bill Kiselick, Division President Mattamy Homes US Group-Charlotte 704-375-9373 Bill.Kiselick@mattamyhomes.com

About Mattamy Homes U.S. Group:
Mattamy Homes U.S. Group, www.mattamyhomes.com expanded into the U.S. in 2003 and is headquartered in Winter Park, Fla. with divisions in Charlotte, Jacksonville, Orlando, Minneapolis and Phoenix. The homebuilder, the largest and most active in Canada with annual revenues exceeding $1.3 billion was ranked among the highest of all homebuilders in the greater Toronto and Ottawa areas in a nationwide customer satisfaction survey conducted by J.D. Power Associates.

NAI Realvest to Launch Paid Intern Program

MAITLAND - NAI Realvest, which ranks as one of the most active developers of industrial facilities in Central Florida and a leading area commercial property leasing and brokerage firm, is now accepting applications for paid internship positions that will commence in January.

Patrick Mahoney, president and chief operating officer at NAI Realvest, said the program is open to students from area colleges and universities with an interest in commercial real estate.

Mahoney said NAI Realvest plans to develop a new generation of commercial real estate executives and hopes the most promising NAI Realvest interns will stay on as junior brokers after they earn their college degrees.

“We have designed a comprehensive experiential professional learning curriculum here at NAI Realvest and we expect to invest substantial energies in the development of a corps of promising young executives,” Mahoney explained.

“Our interns will get first-hand mentoring in landlord and tenant representation, property research, legal, sales and leasing contracts, negotiations, property valuations, property management and marketing,” said Mahoney.
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For more information contact:
Patrick Mahoney, President and COO NAI Realvest, 407-875-9989, pmahoney@realvest.com; George Livingston, Chairman Emeritus, NAI Realvest, 407-875-9989; glivingston@realvest.com
About NAI Realvest:
NAI Realvest, covering all of Central Florida, is a fully integrated commercial real estate operating company specializing in brokerage, development, investment, leasing and management, consulting and research services in the U.S. and worldwide through NAI Global, an international commercial real estate network with over 325 offices spanning the globe. Since 1978, clients have built their businesses on the power of NAI Global’s expanding network. Extensive services include multi-site acquisitions and dispositions, sublease, tenant representation, lease administration and audit, investment services, due diligence and related consulting and advisory services. To learn more, visit www.NAIrealvest.com

Central Florida Agencies, Volunteers Respond to Haitian Disaster


Central Florida Agencies, Volunteers Respond to Haitian Disaster, By Geof Longstaff

Within hours of the catastrophic earthquake in Haiti, a small army of volunteers and local, state and federal agencies swung into action right here in Central Florida. Their efforts deserve praise.

Knowing that thousands of U.S. citizens, foreign nationals and Haitians would seek refuge from the devastation, The Department of Homeland Security chose Orlando Sanford International Airport as one of the primary receiver airports to coordinate their arrival in the U.S., local accommodations, and transfer to other travel centers such as Orlando International Airport.

Orlando Sanford International Airport President Larry Dale immediately began contacting more than 15 local, state and federal agencies for support and organized volunteers to assist them. Less than 24 hours later, when the first planes began arriving, Central Florida was prepared.National security was a principal concern of federal officials, so the reception effort required a substantial security contingent. The earthquake’s devastation included Haitian jails and prisons, and we were alerted that some of the thousands of escaped prisoners might make their way onto refugee transports.

Emergency responders here on the ground in Central Florida ranged from the Florida Department of Child and Family Services to the U.S. Transportation Security Administration and officials from customs, immigration and security agencies as well as local law enforcement and fire/EMS departments, churches, hospitals and volunteers.

As the Orlando Sentinel has reported, coordination of the arrivals has been a huge task. As of Wednesday morning, 92 emergency flights have delivered more than 7,600 evacuees to our reception center, including 5,600 U.S. citizens and 2,000 foreign nationals,
Altogether, these flights delivered 63 earthquake victims who were classified as medical transports.

All of us continue to pray for the victims of this disaster, and Americans have been generous with their private donations and public assistance in the relief effort.

Here in Central Florida, more than 300 agency workers and volunteers can take pride in their own relief effort, which is ongoing.

(Ed. Note: Geof Longstaff is Chairman of the Sanford Airport Authority, which operates Orlando Sanford International Airport)

Beazer Homes to Host Casino Night for Area Realtors at Dupree Lakes in Land O’Lakes Feb. 10

TAMPA - Beazer Homes will host a gala Casino Night for Tampa Bay-area Realtors from 5 to 8 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 10 at Dupree Lakes, located off Ehren’s Cutoff and S.R. 41 in Land O’Lakes.

Admission to the event is free.

Kareyann Rhodes, sales manager for Beazer Homes in the Tampa Bay region, said Casino night games include Blackjack, Craps and Texas Hold 'em. Realtors can use their Casino Night winnings to earn the top three prizes of American Express gift cards, Rhodes said.

Rhodes said Beazer Homes sold eight new homes at Dupree Lakes in January and a third phase with 79 additional single-family home sites will open soon.

Beazer Homes builds three, four and five-bedroom single-family homes at Dupree Lakes with Beazer’s exclusive eSMART features that save energy, conserve water and improve indoor air quality.

New homes at Dupree Lakes are priced starting from under $160,000.

Dupree Lakes features a community clubhouse, resort-style swimming pool, cabana and children's splash zone, a tot lot and playground with slides, two held-court basketball courts, two lighted tennis courts, sand volleyball and soccer field, along with lighted walking trails.
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For more information, contact:
Kareyann Rhodes, Sales Manager, Beazer Homes/Tampa Division 813-663-9002 Krhodes@beazer.com;
Theresa Tilton, Vice President of Sales Beazer Homes/Florida 407-339-4114; ttilton@beazer.com;
David Byrnes President Beazer Homes / Florida 407-339-4114 dbyrnes@beazer.com

About Beazer Homes:
Beazer Homes, headquartered in Atlanta, is one of the country's 10 largest single-family homebuilders with operations in 17 states. Beazer Homes is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol "BZH."

Commercial Florida Advisors Affiliated with Grubb & Ellis|Commercial Florida, Appoints Appraiser John Beil


TAMPA - Commercial Florida Advisors, an advisory firm which is affiliated with Grubb & EllisCommercial Florida, and 130 Grubb & Ellis offices worldwide, recently named John Beil its commercial property appraiser.

Don Lombardi, ALC, vice president who heads Commercial Florida Advisors, based in Tampa with offices in Orlando and Melbourne, said Beil is a Florida certified commercial property appraiser who has more than 10 years of experience in appraising. Beil is a graduate of the University of Baltimore Merrick School of Business and has an extensive background in sales and property management.

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About Commercial Florida Advisors:

Commercial Florida Advisors (CFA) provides business advisory services to companies that own, operate or manage multi-tenant commercial real estate. Services offered include Property Tax Advisory Services, Appraisal and Acquisition Diligence Coordination. Financial Instrument Transactions and Cost Segregation services are planned for the near future.

Contacts:

Don Lombardi, ALC Vice President Ext. 226

Jeff Sweeney SIOR President 407-481-5387

ICI Homes Unveils Plans to Sell New Single-Family Homes Priced from the $150s in Four Communities through March 1

JACKSONVILLE – ICI Homes unveiled plans recently to build new single-family homes priced from $159,900 in four communities in the Jacksonville region.

Rosemary Messina, vice president of sales and marketing for ICI Homes, said the 60-day incentive plan will be available until March 1 at Plantation Grove behind Plantation Estates in Julington Creek in South Jacksonville, and at North Hampton, Tidewater and Victoria Lakes in North Jacksonville.

The three and four bedroom single-family homes will offer 1,800 square feet of living space to 3,000 square feet, Messina said.
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For more information, contact:
Lisa Egle, Marketing Manager, ICI Homes 386-236-4273 legle@icihomes.com;
Rosemary Messina, VP Sales & Marketing ICI Homes, 386-236-4231

About ICI Homes:
ICI Homes is one of the largest privately owned homebuilders in the nation. The 30-year-old firm builds new homes and resort facilities in the Volusia-Flagler region as well as in Jacksonville, Orlando, Melbourne and Tampa.

Beazer Homes to Host Beazer Spa Day for Jacksonville Realtors at Durbin Crossing in St. Johns

JACKSONVILLE - Beazer Homes will host Beazer’s Spa Day for area Realtors on Tuesday, Feb. 9 at Durbin Crossing, located south of Race Track Rd. off Linda Ave. at 200 Huntston Way in St. Johns.

Daniel Gregory, sales manager for Beazer Homes in the Jacksonville region, said the home builder plans to unveil a host of special incentives for clients and exclusive commission incentives for Realtors.

“We’re going to pamper Realtors with world class spa services, chair massages, manicures, mini facials, pedicures with paraffin dips,” Gregory said, and gentlemen are welcome.

The event will be held from 2 to 6 p.m.

Refreshments will include delicacies such as a cheese display with cheddar and Monterey jack cheese, dried apricot with a blend of goat cheese and honey finished with a candied walnut, feta cheese rolled in fresh parsley, seasoned crostini and grapes, tropical Martinis, Caesar salad croustades, Turkey Tea Sandwiches with winter chutney on sweet potato biscuits and Apple and Walnut Chicken Salad served on mini yeast rolls.

Gregory said mimosas, champagne and red and white wines will also be served.

Admission is free to Jacksonville area Realtors, Gregory said.

Space is limited, Gregory said. Participating Realtors should RSVP to Kelli or Paul at 904-230-0567 by February 8th.
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For more information contact:
Dan Gregory, General Sales Manager, Beazer Homes-Jacksonville 904-484-0166 x 227; dgregory@beazer.com;
Theresa Tilton, Vice President of Sales Beazer Homes /Florida Division 407-339-4114; ttilton@beazer.com;
David Byrnes President Beazer Homes / Florida Division - 407-339-4114 dbyrnes@beazer.com

NAI Realvest, NAI Horizon in Phoenix Negotiate Office Lease for 10,000 Square Feet in Scottsdale

ORLANDO - NAI Realvest in Maitland and NAI Horizon in Phoenix recently negotiated a lease agreement for more than 10,000 square feet of office space on behalf of Channel Intelligence at the SkySong mixed-use development in Scottsdale, Ariz.

George Livingston, chairman emeritus of the firm, and Christie Alexander, principal at NAI Realvest, along with Thomas Bean and Patricia Rogers of NAI Horizon represented Channel Intelligence in the lease of the Orlando-based company’s West Coast office.

Channel Intelligence helps retailers, manufacturers and other advertisers make their products and services easier for consumers to find and buy online and in local retail stores.

Higgins Development Partners and Plaza Companies are co-developers of the SkySong project in partnership with the Arizona State University Foundation and USAA Real Estate Company.
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For more information, contact:
Christie Alexander, Principal, NAI Realvest 407-949-0704 calexander@realvest.com;
George Livingston, Chairman Emeritus, NAI Realvest 407-875-9989 glivingston@realvest.com

About NAI Realvest:
NAI Realvest, serving all of Central Florida, is a fully integrated commercial real estate operating company specializing in brokerage, development, investment, leasing and management, consulting and research services in the U.S. and worldwide. NAI Global is an international commercial real estate network with over 325 offices spanning the globe. Since 1978, clients have built businesses on the power of NAI Global’s expanding network. Extensive services include multi-site acquisitions and dispositions, sublease, tenant representation, lease administration and audit, investment services, due diligence and related consulting and advisory services. To learn more, visit www.nairealvest.com.