Ochsner Health System Announces Plans to Lease Former Louisiana Heart Hospital Property
Today, Ochsner Health System announced its plans to lease the former Louisiana Heart Hospital property in Lacombe, Louisiana. Stirling Properties acquired the 25-acre site earlier this month.
An official ceremony was held with Honorable Pat Brister, St. Tammany Parish President; Warner Thomas, President & CEO of Ochsner Health System; Patti Ellish, CEO of St. Tammany Parish Hospital; Bill Davis, CEO of Slidell Market SMH-Ochsner Partnership; Townsend Underhill, Sr. VP of Development for Stirling Properties; and St. Tammany Parish Council members and dignitaries.
Working together with each of its partners, St. Tammany Parish Hospital and Slidell Memorial Hospital, Ochsner plans to repurpose the building to open a Post-Acute Care Hospital to include long-term acute care, skilled nursing, and inpatient rehabilitation services in one convenient St. Tammany location. This effort will also result in job growth and expanded administrative services in the region by opening a dedicated North Shore Service Center.
“We are excited that this facility will once again be opened and provide much-needed medical services for our residents as well as jobs for our local healthcare workforce,” said President Brister. “We appreciate Ochsner’s commitment to St. Tammany Parish, and we look forward to another leading-edge healthcare facility, providing high-quality medical care.”
Townsend Underhill participated in the announcement to underscore Stirling Properties’ focus and commitment to St. Tammany Parish and the entire Gulf South region.
Stirling Properties has invested more than $350 million in St. Tammany and currently owns and operates 4 million square feet of commercial property, with assets throughout the parish—generating significant economic development opportunities, revenue, and job growth for the area and residents. Major projects in the parish include Northpark Corporate Center I & II in Covington, Premier Centre in Mandeville, Stirling Slidell in Slidell, River Chase in Covington, and Fremaux Town Center in Slidell, just to name a few.
In addition to growing its development and brokerage services, Stirling Properties is focused on acquisition and investment projects. The recently closed Louisiana Heart Hospital facility provided the company a chance to invest in a vital property and help to return it to commerce.
“This acquisition also provided us another opportunity to grow and diversify our portfolio as part of Stirling Properties’ overall growth strategy into new commercial real estate sectors within our existing footprint,” said Underhill. “Need and demand in the medical industry are growing, and so are our service lines to meet these local needs.”
Stirling Properties is thankful for its continued partnerships with Ochsner. The two companies have previously worked together on the recently announced $80 million medical clinic and micro hospital at The Grove in Baton Rouge as well as the recently completed and soon to open state-of-the-art Emergency Department and Imaging Center in LaPlace.
Stirling Properties looks forward to announcing future projects in the medical industry—and continuing to serve the commercial real estate needs of the Gulf South region.
What’s Going On at River Chase in Covington?
Stirling Properties Announces Exciting New Updates and Developments
The first phase of the Offices at River Chase, the Northshore’s premier office campus, has completed construction. Located at the southwest corner of Brewster Road and Stirling Boulevard, Phase I includes a Class-A, two-story, 45,000-square-foot office building located on 3.5 acres. It is accessible from both the LA-21 and Brewster Road interchanges on Interstate 12, and within walking distance to a host of amenities, including restaurants, a movie theater, and residential living options. The highly-renowned architectural firm, Wakefield, Beasley, and Associates, designed the base building, and Mandeville-based Greenleaf Lawson Architects served as the interior architect for the project. Tenant build-outs are now underway, and Duplantis Design Group, PC, will move into their new, 6,000-square-foot office space in mid-May. For more information on the Offices at River Chase and leasing opportunities, contact Ryan Murphy at rmurphy@stirlingprop.com or (985) 246-3771. 
Located across the street from the office building, Walk-On’s Bistreaux & Bar commenced construction on its new restaurant last November. Set on 1.82 acres on the northwest corner of Stirling Boulevard and Brewster Road next to Sam’s Club, this marks the 1st Northshore location for the highly-anticipated sports restaurant and bar. It will occupy roughly 9,600 square feet and is expected to open late this summer, just in time for football season. The Covington location will include a rooftop bar, The Upper Deck, an element unique to the design by Greenleaf Lawson Architects. The Upper Deck will feature group seating and additional space for catching a game. 
Rooms-To-Go has opened its new 36,000-square-foot retail showroom located next to Zoe’s Kitchen on Stirling Boulevard. The impressive store is highly visible to Interstate 12 traffic. A Grand Opening celebration was held on Saturday, April 22nd. The furniture retailer relocated from its previous site on Highway 190 in Covington.
Construction on Springs at River Chase is complete, and all buildings are open. This project is a joint venture with Continental Properties. The new 296-unit luxury apartment community is located at the southwest corner of Interstate 12 and Brewster Road. The property features floor plans ranging from studio to three-bedroom apartments. Community amenities include a clubhouse, resort-style pool, 24-hour fitness center, dog park, attached and detached garages, car care center, and a pet spa. Occupancy remains high for the multi-family community. For more information and leasing on Springs at River Chase, contact Jan Rayburn with Continental Properties at (985) 327-1350.
Construction is underway for the newest addition to River Chase, the development of the Preserve at River Chase, a single-family luxury residential community, adjacent to the Springs at River Chase apartments. The Preserve development is a joint venture with Southern Lifestyle Development, which is renowned for its highly-acclaimed River Ranch residential community in Lafayette, Louisiana, amongst many other communities. Phase I of the Preserve will include the completion of 76 detached town and country homes. Infrastructure work has commenced and is expected to be complete in November, at which point the residential lots will be available for sale. Construction on the homes is expected to begin early 2018. 
River Chase is the Northshore’s premier master-planned development located amidst 253 acres on the southeast corner of Interstate 12 and LA Highway 21 in Covington, Louisiana. The mixed-use center includes approximately 945,000 square feet of retail and restaurant options, as well as a Holiday Inn Express, Regal Cinema, luxury residential apartment units, and a Class-A office building. Additional residential and office developments are coming soon. Stirling Properties developed River Chase and currently manages and leases the property. River Chase is a Louisiana Economic Development (LED) Certified Site. For more information, please visit www.stirlingprop.com. For retail leasing and sales, contact Rhonda Sharkawy at (504) 620-8145 or rsharkawy@stirlingprop.com. For office leasing and sales, contact Ryan Murphy at (985) 246-3771 or rmurphy@stirlingprop.com.
Stirling Properties Awarded Management of Pinnacle Nord du Lac in Covington
Stirling Properties commercial real estate company was recently awarded the facility management contract of Pinnacle Nord du Lac retail center, formerly known as Colonial Pinnacle Nord du Lac in Covington, Louisiana.
Pinnacle Nord du Lac, a regional shopping center owned by Dallas-based Cypress Equities, is located on the northeast corner of Interstate 12 and LA Highway 21. Currently, Pinnacle Nord du Lac is comprised of 327,000 square feet of existing retail space, with an additional 162,000 square feet of future retail expansion planned. The retail center is 97% leased, and anchor tenants include Kohl’s, Academy Sports + Outdoors, Hobby Lobby, and Petco, as well as multiple restaurant options. Corporate Realty handles leasing for the property.
Cypress Equities recently acquired Pinnacle Nord du Lac and is beginning construction of its Phase II to complete parking, drive-aisles, and buildings for 94,500 square feet of new lifestyle shop space that will be available in the summer of 2017. This lifestyle component will include local, regional and national fashion and restaurant selections.
“Stirling Properties is excited to take on the management duties of Pinnacle Nord du Lac and to see the property evolve. The new ownership group at Cypress Equities is very motivated, and we look forward to working with them to enhance this asset,” said Donna Taylor, SVP of Asset Management & New Business for Stirling Properties. “There is much potential here with plenty of room for future expansion. A new residential component on the neighboring property and future parish developments will also be positive contributors to the success of this center.”
Stirling Properties developed and manages the adjacent River Chase mixed-use center on the southeast corner of Interstate 12 and LA Highway 21, which houses national anchor tenants such as Target, Sam’s Club, Best Buy, Belk, JCPenney, Cost Plus World Market, Michaels, ULTA Beauty, and Regal Cinema.
Stirling Properties manages more than 17 million square feet of property, with more than 98 million square feet of property and land for sale or lease. Other notable Stirling Properties projects in the area include Premier Centre (Mandeville), Fremaux Town Center (Slidell), Hammond Square (Hammond), and Northpark Corporate Center (Covington).
For more information on Property Management/Asset Management, please contact Donna Taylor at dtaylor@stirlingprop.com or (985) 898-2022.
Field of Dreams
Earlier this week, The Miracle League Northshore broke ground on its new playing field and facility located at Coquille Parks and Recreation in Covington, Louisiana!
The Miracle League works with mentally and physically disabled children so they can participate in everyday sports. The Northshore division was founded in 2014 to bring The Miracle League to serve the children of St. Tammany, Tangipahoa, and Washington Parishes. Coquille Parks and Recreation donated the land, and after a years-long fundraising campaign, the group is finally ready to start construction of the field.
[wpvideo 55HcnFMe]Currently, the children play on a natural-grass field, but the dirt and grass design of a baseball or soccer field found in a typical youth sports program can be challenging and unsafe to maneuver from a wheelchair or with crutches used by many Miracle League participants.
The new Miracle Field will be a specially constructed surface that uses a cushioned, synthetic turf to accommodate wheelchairs and other walking-assistance devices that, along with appropriate support facilities, is designed specifically for use by children with disabilities.
Gina Lorio, Miracle League’s Executive Director, and Griffin Lennox, Stirling Properties’ Investment Sales Analyst
Stirling Properties selected The Miracle League as the beneficiary of our annual Stirling Olympics fundraiser last year. We were able to raise $28,000 to help fund the new playing field and provide local children with access to a safe playing environment! Stirling Properties’ Investment Sales Analyst, Griffin Lennox, is also an active volunteer with The Miracle League and serves as a “buddy” for participating children to help encourage learning and fun in sports.
The mission of Miracle League of Greater New Orleans and The Miracle League North Shore is to promote the health and well-being of children with disabilities, provide opportunities for non-disabled children to learn about and interact with children with disabilities, and develop community awareness and support for the child athlete with disabilities through organized sports leagues. The vision of the program is to provide any disabled child, regardless of their level of disability, the opportunity to play league games and enjoy the emotional and physical benefits of being part of a team.
#StirlingProud
Stirling Properties Welcomes The Home Depot to Hammond Square
Stirling Properties commercial real estate company is pleased to announce that The Home Depot is coming to Hammond, Louisiana, as part of the Hammond Square redevelopment. This will mark the first Tangipahoa Parish location for the long-awaited home improvement retailer.
The Home Depot closed on the acquisition of 9.65 acres of property located on the corner of West Minnesota Park Road and South Magnolia Street on the north side of the shopping center. Construction on the site is anticipated to commence by the end of the year. The store will occupy roughly 106,000 square feet of space with an adjoining 28,000-square-foot garden center, and is expected to open in 2017.
“We are excited that The Home Depot has chosen Hammond,” said City of Hammond Mayor Pete Panepinto. “The Home Depot brings more jobs and consumer choices that are critical to Hammond’s continued growth.”
The Home Depot is the world’s largest home improvement retailer with nearly 400,000 associates and more than 2,200 stores in the US, Canada and Mexico. The Home Depot at Hammond Square will offer a one-stop shop for do-it-yourselfers and professional contractors, with more than 35,000 products in store and 1 million products online.
“Stirling Properties is thrilled to welcome The Home Depot to Hammond Square and to the Hammond retail market,” said Grady Brame, Executive Vice President at Stirling Properties. “The Home Depot was one of the first retailers we targeted when we decided to redevelop the mall back in 2006. This addition has been a long time coming and we are happy to see it finally come to fruition.”
Hammond Square is Tangipahoa Parish’s premier shopping destination, located on approximately 100 acres at the northwest corner of Interstate 12 and US Highway 51 Business (SW Railroad Avenue) in Hammond, Louisiana. Anchored by Dillard’s, Target, Sears, JCPenney, Academy Sports+Outdoors, and AMC Theatres, the 850,000-square-foot shopping center offers a dynamic mix of national and local retailers, shops and restaurants. Stirling Properties developed Hammond Square and currently manages and leases the center.
Tenants include Academy Sports+Outdoors, Albasha Greek & Lebanese Restaurant, AMC Theatres, Bellagio Salon & Spa, Best Buy, Books-A-Million, Bra la Vie (coming spring 2017), Cato, Charming Charlie, Claire’s, Dillard’s, East of Italy, Foot Locker, GNC, Great American Cookies, Hibbett Sports, JCPenney, Justice, Kay Jewelers, Maurices, Menchie’s Frozen Yogurt, Nagoya Sushi & Japanese Steakhouse, Norris & Co. Salon, Obsession, Popcorn Bistro, Rite Aid, rue21, Sears, Shane’s Rib Shack, Shoe Dept. Encore, Sport Clips, Target, The Children’s Place, The Home Depot (coming 2017), T.J.Maxx, ULTA Beauty, Which Wich Superior Sandwiches and Zales. Outparcels tenants include Chase, Olive Garden, Raising Cane’s, Santa Fe Cattle Co., Smoothie King and Verizon.
For sales and leasing information at Hammond Square, contact Rhonda Sharkawy at rsharkawy@stirlingprop.com or (504) 620-8145.
Congratulations to Paul Mastio for being selected as one of New Orleans CityBusiness’ 2016 Money Makers!
CityBusiness’ Money Makers recognizes financial professionals whose fiscal work has set the pace for their company and the region. Honorees were selected based on industry and community involvement, and achievement through their energy and innovative ideas.
“CityBusiness commends its Money Makers for the professional standards they follow as well as for the new ones they are setting,” said Natalie Chandler, Editor of CityBusiness Magazine. “This year’s honorees have not only established their institutions as solid businesses but have also worked to provide help to the community where it’s needed the most.”
Paul Mastio has been a leader and integral part of Stirling Properties’ accounting team for the last 23 years. As CFO, he is responsible for all aspects of the company’s accounting & IT team, operations, processes, and reporting functions across our Gulf South service area.
“I’ve always been great with math and numbers, so when I got into the accounting field, I found it worked well for me,” he said. “I can really make a difference with analysis and reporting, and when I do a report for an owner or investor that saves them money, it feels good.”
Marty Mayer, Paul Mastio, Jeff Marshall
Paul’s role with Stirling Properties is crucial to our success and growth. He is passionate about the company and is always looking to make improvements, save money and assist in our development. “I really enjoy digging into financials or operations and helping the company to be more cost-effective,” he said. “Every day is a huge handbag of new and different tasks in accounting to solve, and that is what motivates me.”
Currently, he is working to implement new commercial transaction software that will simplify work processes for both commercial agents and employees. Paul notes, “I understand the back-end processes of software and how make it work for us so we can be more efficient, report information earlier, and pay our agents quicker. We also pay hundreds of vendors a month, and before, our workflow was condensed into two maddening days. When we changed to doing things electronically, it evened out the workflow so one person can handle it versus two or three. It makes a big impact on cost savings and productivities.”
Paul Mastio, Laura Wallace, Judy McKee, Doug Ferguson
He has successfully implemented two major accounting software conversions at Stirling Properties (PMAS and Yardi) which streamlined duties, ultimately saving time and money. He now serves as a member of the Yardi Property Management Systems Users Group and has guided other former PMAS users to the Yardi system. He is also a Certified Information Technology Professional (CITP) from AICPA.
Paul is heavily involved in coordinating the annual Stirling Olympics fundraiser. He has also led company efforts to support many nonprofit events such as Northshore Heart Walk, Breast Cancer Walk and ALS Association.
He is directly affiliated with numerous nonprofit organizations, community groups and recreational clubs including ALS Association, Boy Scouts of America, Mandeville Soccer Club and Pelican Park, among many others. He’s volunteered with Habitat for Humanity on the build of three homes, and worked to build local community playgrounds.
Many people have contributed to Paul’s success along the way. “My father was a huge influence on me. Although he was the typical 70s and 80s dad, going to work and bringing home the bacon, he taught me a strong work ethic and to always work hard and do your best,” said Paul. “And all of the partners of Stirling Properties—past and present—have been a blessing in my life, teaching me the ropes of real estate and mentoring me throughout the years.”
When Paul isn’t working—or doing work for others—he attends (and coaches!) his kids’ sporting events. He has five children ages five to 17.
And a little fun fact…he is also building a Shelby Cobra from a kit. “I’ve wanted to build a car since I was 14 years old,” he said. “I’ve been following the industry, went to school to learn to build it, and now it’s finally arriving in my garage this December…..assuming my garage is built by then!”
We congratulate Paul on his tremendous accomplishments, and this much deserved award.
#StirlingProud
