Wednesday, October 28, 2015

BLURTBOX TO EXPO AT WEB SUMMIT IN DUBLIN, IRELAND

Orlando, Fla.,  – BlurtBox, the industry’s simplest customer feedback app, will exhibit at Web Summit in Dublin, Ireland Nov. 3-5.   Web Summit is the world’s premiere annual technology conference. It is expected to attract 30,000 attendees from more than 110 countries.

“Exhibiting will be momentous,” said Julien Meyer, founder and CEO of BlurtBox. “The unyielding demand for BlurtBox in Orlando – the country’s hospitality epicenter – has surpassed even my expectations. More than 10,000 people have downloaded the BlurtBox app in the past two months. More than 200 local businesses sign up every week. It is indicative of the need for this user-friendly direct customer feedback tool on a global level.”

Web Summit is the same conference where many ubiquitous startups, like Uber and Airbnb, got their starts. “BlurtBox is poised for rapid growth,” adds Meyer. “I’m looking forward to demonstrating the full potential of this technology with the international community.”

BlurtBox is one of many successful businesses to evolve from the University of Central Florida’s Business Incubator.  Graduates of the program include Inc. 5000 companies. The highly selective program rarely accepts undergraduate students, but made an exception for 23-year-old Meyer.

“Julien is an exceptional young entrepreneur with a level of maturity that reflects his natural entrepreneurial instincts,” notes Carol Ann Dykes, Site Manager of the UCF Business Incubator at Central Florida Research Park. “I foresee BlurtBox taking off quickly in the food service industry, and then in other sectors, like lodging and retail. Anywhere people go for services, BlurtBox is valuable.”

As his company grows, Meyer aims to reinvest in the Orlando entrepreneurial community. In addition to backing scholarships, Meyer sits on the Rosen College Hospitality Management Industry Advisory Board and is partnering with the school to launch an inaugural venture pitch competition this spring.

Blurtbox is a client of the University of Central Florida’s Business Incubation Program at the Central Florida Research Park in East Orange County.

Emerson International closes on Leases totaling over 7,300 rentable square feet at its Office Developments in South Seminole, Maitland and Winter Park

Altamonte Springs, Fla. -- Emerson International recently closed six long-term leases for office space totaling some 7,340 rentable square feet at its office developments in Longwood, Altamonte Springs, Maitland and Winter Park. 

Leasing Associate Zac Starkey represented the landlord Emerson in all six lease agreements with the following tenants at the following locations --

At Emerson’s Sanlando Center II building, 2180 W. State Road 434 in Longwood, the law firm of Aaronson, Austin, PA expanded into 2,093 square feet, and éClat Law who specializes in startup and operation of businesses, has leased 1,733 square feet;

General contractors High Mark Construction expanded into Suite 1166 with 794 square feet in the CenterPointe Office Park at 370 CenterPointe Circle, Altamonte Springs;

Trillium Drivers, a truck drivers staffing company relocated into 1,737 square feet at the 2600 Maitland Center Blvd. building; and 

In Winter Park, Starkey negotiated two leases at Emerson’s Louisiana Office Park located at 1177 Louisiana Ave.   Banda Design, an interior design firm, leased 508 square feet and Winter Park College Consultants, a counseling service for students and families on navigating the college application and decision process,  leased 475 square feet.

Tuesday, October 27, 2015

U.S. Army Contract Opens Big Door for RSS Logistics

ORLANDO, Fla.  --- Orlando-based RSS Logistics is a key member of the team  lead by Advanced IT Concepts (AITC) recently awarded a six-year, $45 million U.S. Army contract..

“AITC, Inc., chose RSS Logistics to play an important role developing and providing advanced training systems that will help ensure troop readiness at all times,” Jeanette Coronado, CEO explained.

The contract, awarded by the U.S. Army Program Executive Office for Simulation, Training and Instrumentation (PEO STRI) ARCTIC---Army Combat Training Instrumentation Contract---program, is a firm-fixed-price agreement that authorizes the PEO STRI’s PM TRADE division, responsible for collective instrumented live and non-live training systems, to acquire equipment and services quickly and efficiently.

Coronado said RSS will provide expertise in developing technical documents, program support, and logistics to support the delivery and use of training equipment and services. RSS will hire additional staff with technical publications expertise to support the work, Coronado said.

“Our experienced team of defense acquisition professionals with more than 25 years of experience in the defense industry makes RSS Logistics an excellent choice to ensure that the best equipment and services are delivered when needed at the lowest possible total ownership costs (TOC),” Coronado added. 

Since its founding in 2011, RSS Logistics – a client company at the UCF Business Incubator in East Orange County in the Central Florida Research Park – has grown at a rate of more than 50 percent per year.

Hold-Thyssen Negotiates Long Term Lease with Rheumatologists Regal Oaks Plaza West in Weeki Wachee

TAMPA, Fla. --- Carol L. Kinnard, transaction specialist at Hold-Thyssen, LLC, a commercial real estate services firm with offices in Tampa, recently negotiated a long-term lease for medical offices in Weeki Wachee in Hernando County.  

Dr. Farrukh Zaidi and Dr. Mohammed Mughni leased 1,802 square feet of medical office space at Regal Oaks Plaza West, 6475 Oregon Jay Rd. joining other medical service providers at the development. 

Regal Oaks Development Group, Inc. is the landlord.  

Drs. Zaidi and Mughni, long-standing clients of Kinnard who represented them in the transaction, said their new suite provides greater patient space and parking than the facilities they outgrew on the Oak Hill Hospital campus. Their rheumatology practice has multiple locations in the Tampa Bay area.

Hold-Thyssen provides commercial property and leasing and management services to institutional and private investor clients nationwide.  The 40-year old firm’s current portfolio includes more than100 commercial properties throughout the United States.

NAI Realvest Closes New Long Term Lease Agreement for 13,777 Square Foot Medical Professional office in Sebring

ORLANDO, Fla. -- NAI Realvest recently negotiated a long-term lease for 13,777 rentable square feet of medical professional office space at 5825 Frontage Rd. off Highway 27 N. in Sebring.

Chris Adams, associate at NAI Realvest, brokered the transaction representing the landlord, Triple A Properties, Inc. of Winter Haven.  

The local tenant is Bassetti & Associates, MD PA a medical practice that has been serving Highlands County since 1985. 
 

Ryland Homes adds new one story floor plan to the choices at Carolina Park in Mt. Pleasant

Charleston, S.C. -- Ryland Homes has added a new one-story floor plan with three bedrooms and three full baths at its community of Carolina Park located on Carolina Park Blvd. north of Highway 17 in Mt. Pleasant.

Gayle Jinks, vice president of sales and marketing for Ryland Homes in the Charleston region, said the Seneca floor plan with 2,160 square feet of living area features a formal dining room and a den with study option, and is priced from $425,000.  

The master suite is tucked away in the back of the home and features a walk-in closet, dual sinks and raised vanity. Secondary bedrooms are towards the front of the home, Jinks said, and one features a private full bath.  The home also includes an attached two car garage. A second floor bonus room or fourth bedroom are available options with the Seneca.

Carolina Park which is adjacent to protected wetlands and many of the home sites have pond views.    Amenities in the community include a junior Olympic size swimming pool, tennis courts, nautical playground and walking and biking trails.

New Ryland homes at Carolina Park range from 2,072 square feet of living area to 2,964 square feet priced from the low $400s. 

Two decorated models are available for viewing, Jinks added.  

Berkadia Brokers Sales of Two Brevard County Apartment Communities Totaling 250 Units for $18 Million.

Orlando / Melbourne / Palm Bay, Fla. --- Berkadia Real Estate Advisors recently brokered the sales of two Brevard County apartment communities comprised of 250 units – Park Village in Melbourne and Malabar Lakes in Palm Bay – for a total of $18,000,000.

Cole Whitaker, Managing Director for Berkadia, negotiated the sales along with Senior Directors Hal Warren and Jason Stanton, representing Deancurt Melbourne LLC, the seller of both properties.

Buyer White Eagle Property Group LLC purchased Park Village, which consists of 138 one- and two-bedroom units, for $10,055,000, an average price per unit of $72,862.  Park Village, located at 3099 Park Village Way in Melbourne was built in 1986. 

White Eagle paid $7,945,000, or an average of $70,938 per unit, for Malabar Lakes apartments at 1018 Malabar Lakes Drive in Palm Bay.  The 112 one- and two-bedroom apartments were built in 1988.

About Berkadia:
Berkadia, a joint venture of Berkshire Hathaway and Leucadia National Corporation, is an industry leading commercial real estate company providing comprehensive capital solutions and investment sales advisory and research services for multifamily and commercial properties.  Berkadia is amongst the largest, highest rated and most respected primary, master and special servicers in the industry.

Oceans Luxury Realty Sells Property Management Offices and Consolidates Operations in Daytona Beach Shores

Daytona Beach Shores, Fla. -- Oceans Luxury Realty has closed on the sale of its property located at 2040 Atlantic Avenue in Daytona Beach Shores where the firm’s rentals and management has been controlled for more than two years.

Oceans Luxury Realty also recently purchased all remaining office space at its 3162 Atlantic Ave. sales office location, now providing a total of 5,500 square feet, said Crystal Anderson, co-founder and president.

Previously Oceans Luxury Realty occupied only 2,000 square feet for its beachside sales offices, and now the rental and property management division will relocate into the newly expanded space at 3162 Atlantic Ave. where remodeling is underway.

The $40,000 plus remodeling project should be completed in November and by Dec. 1  Oceans Luxury Realty will have a staff of 18 professionals there at 3162 Atlantic Ave.

Oceans Luxury Realty focuses on management and sales of luxury oceanfront resort homes and condominiums in Volusia County.

Meritage Homes Opens Multi-Million Dollar Amenity Center at Watermark in Winter Garden


ORLANDO, Fla. – Meritage Homes recently opened their multi-million dollar amenity center for homeowners at Watermark, one of the homebuilder’s largest single-family communities, located off of Seidel Rd. in Winter Garden.

Tatiana Souza, Vice President of Sales for Meritage Homes in the Orlando region, said the spectacular resort-style amenity center, which took a year to complete, is situated on a hill overlooking the entire Watermark community.  

Souza said one of the most significant features is a unique rooftop observation and party deck for residents to enjoy dramatic views of the community and the nearby nightly fireworks in the sky above Disney World.

Watermark’s state-of-the-art amenity center also features a 6,000 square foot clubhouse with two gathering rooms that can accommodate up to 200 people, two full catering kitchens, an outdoor kitchen, workout room, two tennis courts, a resort-style swimming pool with children’s splash zone and built-in playground on the deck.

Meritage plans to build more than 800 new energy-efficient homes at Watermark in four phases with 54 homesites in the first phase alone.  Three to six-bedroom plans with striking architectural styles in 12 distinctive designs are offered, priced from the mid $200s.

RYLAND HOMES NAMES THREE NEW ASSOCIATES IN SALES IN CHARLESTON AREA

Charleston, S.C. – Ryland Homes recently named three sales associates for its new home communities in the Charleston area.

Gayle Jinks, vice president of sales and marketing for Ryland Homes, said Kelly Gillette, a veteran in new homes sales has joined Ryland Homes.  She has over 17 years with several national homebuilding companies and has been consistently awarded for sales, marketing and customer service. Gillette is also a Charleston Southern graduate, and she will be working out of Ryland’s community of Tupelo Forest. 

Barry Cunningham, who was named sales counselor for Ryland Homes’ Poplar Grove community, was born, raised and educated in Ontario before receiving his Doctor of Chiropractic degree and running a successful practice for 15 years in Cincinnati. Cunningham and his wife moved to Charleston and he started a career in real estate nine years ago, handling general estate and new home sales.      

Sarah Bellamy, who has been with Ryland Homes for two years as a sales assistant, was recently promoted to sales counselor.  Jinks said Bellamy has worked at four of Ryland’s growing communities in the Charleston area and through training with experienced sales counselors, Sarah has learned the business. In her new role she will be assisting new home buyers at Ryland’s community of Reminisce in Summerville, S.C.

Thursday, October 15, 2015

Trends Study: Health Care Providers seeking more space in Retail Real Estate

Orlando, Fla. --- A quarterly study of retail property trends in the southeastern U.S. indicates health care providers may be a significant growth market for retail shopping centers over the next decade.

Two major demographic trends are sparking the change, according to Health Care Reform: Changing Retail Real Estate, published by Crossman & Company, one of the largest third party retail leasing, management and investment sales firms in the Southeast.

Since the Affordable Care Act went into effect more than 17 million Americans have joined the U.S. health care system, and that number is projected to top 30 million by the end of the decade.

In addition, an average of 1,500 Baby Boomers reach retirement age every day in the U.S. and qualify for Medicare.

Both of these demographic waves result in significant additional demand for health care services from consumers who tend to be more cost-conscious. On the other side of the equation, ACA and Medicare requirements are increasing costs and reducing compensation for health care providers. 

The Crossman report cites another major trend that makes retail centers so appealing to health care providers.

Employers are shedding the traditional model of working directly with insurance brokers for their employees’ coverage. They are giving their employees a preset contribution to apply toward health care and shifting the burden of choice to workers, and that means cost will be a principal factor in choosing providers.

For health care providers, those trends point the way toward less expensive facilities that are closer to the people who use them.

The Crossman report identifies several factors that appeal to health care tenants, including: good parking, higher ceiling heights, spaces that can accommodate separate HVAC and plumbing systems, options for storage of secure health records to maintain HIPAA standards, resources for the disposal of medical waste, increased use of utilities, specialized janitorial and security services and easy access for patient pick-up and drop-off.

The report concludes that while medical uses in retail centers may require more investment and higher attention to lease negotiations, medical tenants can offer great credit, longer lease terms, and be a positive traffic draw to the center.

Berkadia negotiates investment sale of 88 Unit Apartment community north of Birmingham

Birmingham /Hanceville, Ala. – Berkadia, one of the nation’s largest and most active multifamily investment sales companies, recently negotiated the sale of Pavillion Apartments, an 88-unit apartment community at 401 College Drive, N.E. in Hanceville, 45 minutes north of Birmingham.

Josh Jacobs, investment sales associate at Berkadia along with David Oakley, managing director, negotiated the transaction representing the California-based seller Cypress Axiomm Capital.

Jacobs said the apartments, built in 1996, sit one block from Wallace State Community College, which has been a staple of the community for five decades and recently underwent renovations and expansion.

The Thrash Group, based in Mississippi, purchased the property for an undisclosed price. 

Berkadia, a joint venture of Berkshire Hathaway and Leucadia National Corporation, is an industry leading commercial real estate company providing comprehensive capital solutions and investment sales advisory and research services for multifamily and commercial properties.

Pulte Homes sets grand opening for Starling Oaks Nov. 21 New Creekview Model Underway

Riverview, Fla. – Pulte Homes is planning a grand opening for its newest gated community, Starling Oaks, on Nov. 21 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Sean Strickler, president of Pulte’s West Florida division, said the homebuilder started construction of its Creekview model home that will be unveiled at the grand opening.

The single-story Creekview plan with 2,489 square feet of living space, offers four bedrooms, three baths and a flex room.  The extended island kitchen serves a café and a huge gathering room.  Optional features of the model include a loft and extended three-car garage.

Stickler said Pulte is offering 48 home sites at Starling Oaks with natural landscaping and mature trees located off Boyette and Balm Riverview Roads in Riverview. 

New homes at Starling Oaks range from 2,489 square feet of living area to 4,201 square feet in five distinct energy efficient designs that feature Pulte’s Life Tested® options including lofts, media rooms, and Owner’s Entry® with Pulte Planning Center. 

The community features water views for new one and two story, up to four-bedroom homes with three-car garages priced from the low $300s, Strickler said.

Starling Oaks is conveniently located across the street from Riverview High School and features no CDD (Community Development District) fees. Homebuyers will also enjoy easy access to shopping, a hospital and restaurants via major arterial highways.

Visit www.Pulte.com/StarlingOaks/ for more information on the grand opening.

NAI Realvest Negotiates Lease in Winter Park for 5,490 square feet to house new Massey Communications Offices

WINTER PARK, Fla. – NAI Realvest recently negotiated a long term lease agreement for 5,490 rentable square feet at 1201 S. Orlando Ave., in Winter Park.

Senior Broker Associate Mary Frances West, CCIM and Tom R. Kelley II, CCIM, a principal at NAI Realvest, negotiated the lease representing the landlord Gateway Plaza Ltd.

Massey Communications, Inc. is the new tenant relocating from Orlando.   Jeff Sweeney and Austin Johnson of Cushman & Wakefield represented Massey.

Tyler Property Management Readying New Offices for November 1 Opening

Ormond Beach, Fla. – Tyler Property Management, which currently leases and manages more than 550 properties in the Volusia-Flagler areas, recently purchased the property at 198 N. Nova Rd. in Ormond Beach.

Crystal Anderson, owner of Tyler Property Management, said the relatively new, 2800 square foot, freestanding building is undergoing some interior remodeling for the company’s new location which will be completed and ready for move-in by Nov. 1.

Anderson said Tyler Property Management’s Holly Hill office will close and former owner Steve Tyler will be the managing broker at the new Ormond Beach location which will include a total staff of nine.

The new Nova Road office will control long term rentals throughout East Volusia and Flagler counties, while beachside properties will still be handled by Anderson’s Oceans Luxury Realty Daytona Beach Shores office.  

A grand opening to the public is planned for the new Tyler Property Management offices in Ormond Beach on Nov. 14.