WeinPlus Real Estate Advisory Services Launches Web Site to Assist Commercial Property Owners, Managers Maximize Revenues

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. --- WeinPlus Real Estate Advisory Services, the St. Petersburg firm that works with commercial property owners, developers and management firms to maximize revenues and streamline development and construction practices, has launched a new web site at www.weinplusassociates.com to teach real estate professionals how to prosper in a recessionary economy.

Rachel Elias Wein, AIA, principal of WeinPlus Real Estate Advisory Services, said she designed the web site as an introduction to her professional services and a lesson plan for forward-thinking real estate professionals.

“The commercial real estate industry is recovering from the worst recession since the Great Depression,” Wein explained. “A new generation of real estate professionals---owners, developers and property managers---is emerging that recognize the need to adapt their business model to create opportunities in a new economy,” she said. “We expect to play a large role in this evolution.”

Wein, former development manager with The Sembler Company in St. Petersburg and a Senior Associate with Ernst & Young’s Construction and Real Estate Advisory Services practice in Philadelphia, earned degrees from the University of Florida: Master’s degrees in Architecture and Real Estate and a Bachelor’s degree of Design.

Her experience providing advisory services to numerous Fortune 500 companies includes more than $40 billion in real estate transactions and $2 billion in construction projects.
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For more information, contact: Rachel Elias Wein, AIA, Founder / Principal, WeinPlus, 727-386-9346, www.weinplusassociates.com; Larry Vershel or Beth Payan, Larry Vershel Communications 407-644-4142 Lvershelco@aol.com

WeinPlus Associates Awarded Consulting Contract

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. --- WeinPlus Real Estate Advisory Services in St. Petersburg was recently awarded a major consulting contract to optimize tenant improvement and ground-up construction processes for Equity One, Inc., the Miami-based real estate investment trust that specializes in the acquisition, asset management, development and redevelopment of quality retail properties throughout the U.S.

Rachel Elias Wein, AIA, principal of WeinPlus Real Estate Advisory Services, said her work will include development of strategies to accelerate retail tenant openings, providing increased revenue for Equity One.

Equity One properties include 174 retail centers that total more than 19 million square feet, four projects that are currently under development, six non-retail properties, and five parcels of land. Additionally, Equity One has joint venture interests in twelve retail centers and one office building totaling approximately 1.9 million square feet.

Wein, whose professional specialties combine project analysis, management, finance, accounting and construction, is widely recognized as an expert in development process improvement and cost control.

Wein formerly served as development manager with the Sembler Company in St. Petersburg and senior associate with Ernst & Young’s Real Estate and Construction Advisory Services in Philadelphia, and holds Master of Architecture and Master of Science in Real Estate degrees from the University of Florida.

“We’re excited to continue our relationship with Equity One. With an operation as large as theirs, we have an opportunity to make a significant positive impact.” Wein said.
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For more information, contact: Rachel Elias Wein, AIA, Founder/Principal, WeinPlus, 727-386-9346, www.weinplusassociates.com; Larry Vershel, Beth Payan, Larry Vershel Communications 407-644-4142

Grubb & Ellis|Commercial Florida Negotiates Renewal Lease with Spartan Securities Group at St. Petersburg’s City Center

TAMPA - Grubb & EllisCommercial Florida, which is associated with 130 Grubb & Ellis offices worldwide, recently negotiated renewal lease for 2,970 square feet at 100 2nd Ave. South at the City Center in St. Petersburg.

Sean Kennedy, associate and Tom Kennedy vice president in the firm’s Office Services Group negotiated the transaction representing the landlord, Atlanta-based Behringer Harvard Real Estate and the tenant, Spartan Securities Group a local investment banking firm who renewed its lease of suite N300 in the 238,000 square foot building.
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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 45 brokers divided among its Tampa, Orlando and Melbourne offices to serve the entire mid-Florida marketplace. Visit www.commercialfl.com.

About Grubb & Ellis Company: Grubb & Ellis Company (NYSE: GBE) is one of the largest and most respected commercial real estate services and investment companies in the world. Our 6,500 professionals in more than 100 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), mutual funds and other real estate investment funds. For more information, visit www.grubb-ellis.com.

Contacts: Sean Kennedy, 813-639-1111; Jeffrey Sweeney 407-481-5387; Larry Vershel 407-644-4142

Cuhaci & Peterson Architects Awarded Contracts to design renovations for Sweetbay Supermarkets in Sarasota, St. Petersburg and S. Pasadena

ORLANDO, Fla. -- Cuhaci & Peterson Architects, LLC, based in Orlando’s Baldwin Park, which ranks as one of the largest commercial architectural firms in the southeast, was recently awarded contracts to design renovations for Sweetbay grocery store facilities in Sarasota, St. Petersburg and South Pasadena.

Lonnie Peterson, chairman of Cuhaci & Peterson Architects, said all three facilities measure 35,000 square 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
Larry Vershel or Beth Payan, Larry Vershel Communications, 407-644-4142

Grubb & Ellis|Commercial Florida Negotiates New Lease at St. Petersburg’s City Center

TAMPA, Fla. -- Grubb & EllisCommercial Florida, which is associated with 130 Grubb & Ellis offices worldwide, recently negotiated a new lease for 2,022 square feet at 100 2nd Ave. South at the City Center in St. Petersburg.

Sean Kennedy, associate in the firm’s Office Services Group and Tom Kennedy vice president negotiated the transaction representing the landlord, Atlanta-based Behringer Harvard Real Estate Investments and the tenant, Café 100, a local fresh fast gourmet food restaurateur and caterer.

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 Tampa, Orlando and Melbourne 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 Grubb & Ellis Realty Investors, 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 and other real estate investment funds. For more information, visit www.grubb-ellis.com.

Tom Kennedy, 813-830-7892-
Jeffrey Sweeney 407-481-5387
Larry Vershel 407-644-4142