Thursday, March 14, 2013

Georgian Place: A mixed use success story


Georgian Place Finished 2012 with a 90 percent occupancy level.

A remarkable achievement when you consider that only four of the original outlet retailers remained at the property when it was purchased by SugarOak Properties in 2005. The property has been successfully re-positioned despite a poor economic climate and the negative public perception of the “failed outlet mall.”

Tonya Spangler, VP of leasing and sales, and Don Lynch, building and grounds supervisor at Georgian Place
Tonya Spangler, VP of Leasing & Sales for SOAR Somerset, an entity of SugarOak Properties has implemented a redevelopment plan that has transformed the property into a mixed use, community center.

“Tonya has done a remarkable job of matching the positive attributes of Georgian Place with some of Somerset’s leading physicians, businesses, charitable organizations and local retailers. She truly deserves a lot of credit for bringing GP back to life,” said Dan Baker, the president of SugarOak Properties.

The highlight of 2012 was the sale of an 11,200 square foot space to the Boys & Girls Club of Somerset. Their new facility is three times larger than their previous location.

The newly built out space is extremely flexible and meets the club’s activity, gym and office space requirements very well. Also contributing to the increase in the amount of space that has been sold, Boyer Financial Planning purchased an additional 2,100 square feet.

Children enjoying the gym area at the Boys & Girls Club
located in Suite 117 Georgian Place, Somerset, PA
New leases were signed with Wilson Creek Energy, Ophthalmic Associates, Community Care, Inc., Appalachia IU8, Polished Professional Nail Spa, PA Elks State Association, and George and Bob’s computer service.

Georgian Place has large, well lighted parking areas, a nicely landscaped courtyard “gathering” space with picnic tables and benches which are enjoyed from April through November or December.

The project is situated on over 40 acres and has two areas currently donated to nonprofit organizations, Somerset County Farmers’ Market and Jager & Friends Dog Park. These agreements are part of the long term vision of a true community center. The crown jewel of the development is the Georgian Inn of Somerset.

This business is thriving under the ownership of Charles and Stephanie Charrie. The Charries have taken pride in operating a first class inn and restaurant. If you haven’t stayed or stopped by for lunch, dinner, or a quick bite at the bar, you’ve got to put this on your bucket list of things to do in Somerset.


The great thing about the mixed use concept is the variety of reasons local residents might have to come to the property. “We have our own little community,” said Donald Lynch, Building and Grounds Supervisor. Donald has been at the project since the new ownership and wears many hats. Don manages all aspects of property maintenance and repairs and construction projects.

“His attentive effort and knowledge have contributed greatly to the success of the project,” said Tonya Spangler. “Don is well versed in construction costs and building codes which adds tremendous value and keeps us competitive,” Spangler said. “I've had ties to the property for over 16 years in various construction capacities,” Lynch commented.

“I've witnessed the changes from decline to the new direction. It’s been very positive in regards to a relationship focus with tenants and owners; and the property face lift. Also, we have been fortunate to work with contractors who are willing to step up to meet our goals whenever they can to help us succeed with the numerous improvement projects we've taken on. At the end of the day, we want the tenant or owner to be happy with it. It’s more than just getting it done.

It’s about the finished result,” he said.

The businesses at Georgian Place indirectly share in the increased mixed-use activity and become more successful as a result. The Retail Merchants Association initiates several community events each year; such as the rapidly growing Scarecrow Festival, and work together on other fun promotions throughout the year.

There are endless opportunities for joint advertising and information sharing. Since the property has been converted to business condominiums, it has become a more involved model of business part­nerships where individual condo owners become partners and have a stake in the entire property.

“Buying a business condo is a great way to create value for your business, and many have crunched the numbers to find it’s less expensive than leasing. The current low interest rates make it even better to buy now,” Spangler said.

For more information visit www.georgianplace.net

Wednesday, February 27, 2013

Georgian Place Nearly Full


SOMERSET, PENNSYLVANIA – February 22, 2013 
With new deals totaling more than 28,000 square feet, the once-distressed Georgian Place outlet center in Somerset is at 90 percent occupancy, according to Tonya Spangler, vice president of leasing and sales.

New tenants include Wilson Creek Energy, George & Bob's Computer Service, Appalachia Intermediate Unit 8 administrative offices, Community Care Inc., Ophthalmic Associates, Pennsylvania Elks State Association and Polished Professional Nail Spa. The newest condominium owner is the Boys & Girls Club of Somerset County, which purchased more than 11,000 square feet for its new facility.

"We have stuck with our initial plan to create a mixed-use center anchored with medical and professional offices and have been diligent in maintaining existing tenants," Spangler said in a press release. "The project has taken creativity and substantial capital and management investments by SugarOak to be this successful."

In 2005 SugarOak Properties of Herndon, Va., converted the 182,000-square-foot facility into a business condominium, providing office, retail, medical and service users with an opportunity to purchase or lease ready-to-use space.

For more information on Georgian Place or opportunities available for leasing or purchasing space at the center, please call 814-443-3818 or visit our website at www.georgianplace.net

Friday, February 1, 2013

Boys and Girls Club on the Move to Bigger and Better Places - Georgian Place Sells 11,000 Sf to Boys and Girls Club for New Facility


Somerset, Pennsylvania - February 1, 2013 - The Boys & Girls Club of Somerset had a ribbon cutting ceremony this week to celebrate the opening of their new 11,000 SF facility at Georgian Place.  Previously located in the Lion's Club building on West Fairview Street, The Club had outgrown the former facility due to the success of the service and various programs offered to children 6 to 18.  The Club has an ongoing campaign to establish their Growth Fund, which allowed for the purchase of the new facility and will establish an endowment fund to sustain operations of the new facility in the future. 

S
Ribbon Cutting Ceremony
The former space provided 3,500 square feet for Club activities. With more than 11,000 square feet, including classrooms, a kitchen, gym, and expanded restroom facilities, the new space will allow the Boys & Girls Club of Somerset County to accommodate more children and expand the programs offered to the youth of Somerset County. "We do not turn any children away here," commented Barbara Knecht, chief professional officer of the Club. "The past two years we have had to have a waiting list, but now we can accommodate everyone on the list as well as additional children and teenagers."

"It's amazing how well this space fit the needs of the club without requiring a major remodel," said Tonya Spangler, VP of Leasing and Sales for Georgian Place. "Having found a user who can benefit from the high ceiling and existing restrooms is fantastic. The club will be a great addition to the Georgian Place community," she said. It is evident by the proudly displayed wall art and pretty pink flowers artfully pasted on the door to the girls restroom that the kids have taken quite a liking to this massive new place to learn and grow.

About The Boys & Girls Club of Somerset County
The Boys & Girls Club of Somerset County is a non-profit organization that supports the youth of our community. It offers a positive environment during the after-school hours. The Club's mission is to inspire and enable all young people, especially those who need us most, to realize their full potential as productive, responsible and caring citizens. The Club is open to all youth ages 6-18 currently attending public, private, home or charter schools in Somerset County. On a typical day at the Club, students are provided a small snack, time to complete their homework, and the opportunity to spend time with other kids their age. Office hours are 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and programming is from 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.

About Georgian Place
In 2005 SugarOak Properties converted the 182,000 square feet former Outlet Center at Georgian Place into a full-service business condominium -- providing office, retail, medical and service users with an opportunity to purchase or lease ready-to-use space at below market prices. The Boys & Girls Club joins businesses including Precision Fitness, Famous Footwear Outlet, Boyer Financial Planning, Pennsylvania Highlands Community College, Fastenal, Paramount Martial Arts, Broken Spoke Mercantile, Vittone Eye Surgical Associates, The Sewing Box Quilt Shop, Laurel Arts Education and Dance Center, Pediatric Care Specialists, Family Behavioral Resources, Wilson Creek Energy and more. 

Wednesday, October 17, 2012

Crossings Center’s Annual Blood Drive


Norcross, GA - Tenants and the local community are invited to come to Crossings Center on Peachtree Parkway to give “The Gift of Life” on Friday, October 19th from 11:00am to 5:00pm. Crossings Center has teamed up with LifeSouth and the Bloodmobile to host .

All donors will receive a free Bleed for Your Team T-shirt representing either the Georgia Bulldogs or the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets.


Please visit www.crossingscenter.net for more information on the property.     
 

Thursday, September 6, 2012

Getting Deals Done in Spalding Exchange Office Park in Norcross, GA

Norcross, GA - August 14, 2012 -
Cole Dermatology, Physiotherapy Associates, Smiles for Kids Pediatric Dentistry and Discover Media are among the recent deals at SugarOak Properties’ Spalding Exchange Office Park in Norcross, pushing occupancy from 40% (when SugarOak acquired the eight-building project eight months ago) to 60% leased.
 
About SugarOak
SugarOak is a full service real estate company offering investment, management, and construction services across multiple property types. Headquartered in Herndon, Virginia, SugarOak has ownership interests and management portfolios across the US and Canada.
 

Casa Mexico, Lynn’s Furniture and Jewlz at Peach Shops at Byron

BYRON, GEORGIA – August 17, 2012 – Casa Mexico, a family owned and operated restaurant, has renewed their 2,400 square foot lease for another five years - giving their vote of confidence to the SugarOak management team at Peach Shops at Byron.  At Casa Mexico, you will enjoy a wide range of mouth watering Mexican dishes, with generous portions and a friendly staff.
 
Lynn’s Furniture is another family owned business, and new to Peach Shops at Byron having signed a one year lease for 3,520 square feet.  “We have everything you need to turn your house into a home, at great low prices everyday.”  Check Lynn’s Furniture out for items such as children’s high chairs, full bedroom suites, living room ensembles, hall trees and more. 
 
Jewlz, a discount jewelry and accessories store, has signed a three year lease for 3,840 square feet.  Come see Jewlz for designer-like accessories at reasonable prices.
 
About SugarOak
SugarOak is a full service real estate company offering investment, management, and construction services across multiple property types. Headquartered in Herndon, Virginia, SugarOak has ownership interests and management portfolios across the US and Canada.

Tuesday, July 10, 2012

Good Growth - Garden and other projects under way at Holland Town Center

Good things are growing in the Holland Town Center.

At the center of the plaza at 12330 James St., local nonprofit group Eighth Day Farm is cultivating 1.3 acres of asphalt into an urban garden. The group hopes to see a produce stand go up in July or August, where consumers can buy vegetables.

The thriving farm is a metaphor for the liveliness that developers hope the once-struggling mall will embody.

And it’s just one face of a visible transformation that the property is undergoing in the hands of the Virginia-based SugarOak Management, a property development firm. A major tenant, an independent Planet Fitness franchise, opens this week in 22,000 square feet of space. Harvest Antiques and Collectibles and Home Decor, a tenant at the center for 16 years, is moving to a more desirable location.

The Holland Town Center is in the third year of a roughly five-year turnaround plan, according to Town Center spokesman Drew Durham. The signs of progress are easy to see.

From pavement to vegetables
“We’re growing a variety of things,” said Jeff Roessing, farm manager and sole full-time employee of Eighth Day Farm. Besides a small number of strawberries, “it’s pretty much all annual vegetables, with a few herbs.”

Roessing said that the Holland Town Center requested the partnership and paid for most of the materials needed to - in reverse of the familiar song - produce a gardener’s paradise where someone else had already put up a parking lot. Eighth Day Farm, which farms at a total of three sites in the Holland area, is now seeking to further develop the Town Center farm. The farm is seeking to raise $16,000 in donations through the social media funding website kickstarter.com.

Originally called the Holland Outlet Center, the property was purchased in July 2009 for $2.8 million by SugarOak Management, according to Holland Township records.

The owner will have invested an additional $2.75 million in the property by the end of 2012, according to Durham. Besides the cost of carrying the property, the money was spent on improvements to the buildings and site and tenant improvements.

Mixed-use projects
“It’s a big job remodeling and improving over 200,000 square feet,” Durham said. A new access road built in 2010 provided closer access to shops on the west side of the open-air mall. The company also has begun rebuilding the building facades throughout the mall. One is finished and another is being completed.

The new owners’ vision is for a mixed-use property, and they’ve attracted a spectrum of tenants. Lakeshore Electric Cars and Golf Carts and Cassidy Rae Studio, a hair salon, rank among the most recent tenants, Durham said. Existing tenants like West Michigan Flooring and Harvest Antiques & Collectibles & Home Decor are relocating or expanding.

Harvest Antiques is preparing to move to a better location, after operating as an antique mall for 16 years in the Holland Town Center.

In the past, they had to compensate for an out-of-the-way location by advertising campaigns, said manager Dave Rosenberger.

“We’ve done fine and we’ve made it through the bad times, but this should be a shot in the arm,” he said. The new location by the Center’s pond, visible from restaurants, is highly desirable.

“For pretty much the first time in eight years, we’re going to have walk-by traffic,” Rosenberger said.

About Holland Town Center
If you would like more information about Holland Town Center, please contact Drew Durham at 616 566-2039or go to www.hollandtowncenter.com

About SugarOak
SugarOak is a full service real estate company offering investment, management, and construction services across multiple property types. Headquartered in Herndon, Virginia, SugarOak has ownership interests and management portfolios across the US and Canada.