Stirling Properties Welcomes 1st El Pollo Loco to Louisiana Market
Stirling Properties commercial real estate company is pleased to welcome Louisiana’s 1st El Pollo Loco restaurant to Lafayette.
The new El Pollo Loco will be located at 3808 Johnston Street on the corner of Westchester Drive. It will occupy 3,000 square feet of restaurant space, including a drive-thru. Construction on the building is expected to commence in early September, with an anticipated opening in the late spring of 2018.
El Pollo Loco, which is Spanish for “The Crazy Chicken,” features authentically prepared flame-grilled, citrus-marinated chicken, burritos, salads, soups, tacos, and quesadillas.
“We’re dedicated to serving healthy, fresh ‘pollo’ (chicken) hot off our open-flame grills from the skilled hands of our Grill Masters,” said Jason Trotter, El Pollo Loco franchise owner. “Our goal is to serve perfect ‘pollo’ all the time! We are excited to open our first El Pollo Loco restaurant in Louisiana—and we look forward to bringing our authentic Mexican grill to the residents of Lafayette!”
Rhonda Sharkawy and Lauren Ryan, leasing executives with Stirling Properties are the exclusive commercial brokers for El Pollo Loco in the state of Louisiana and are working to identify additional restaurant locations for the franchise. Ryan Pecot, leasing executive with Stirling Properties also represented the sellers in this transaction.
El Pollo Loco is publically traded and has more than 470 company-owned and franchised restaurants in Arizona, California, Nevada, Texas, and Utah. El Pollo Loco is expanding its presence in key markets through a combination of company and existing and new franchisee development.
Expanding Commercial Real Estate Services in Southwest Louisiana
Stirling Properties is pleased to announce that it is expanding its commercial real estate services in Lake Charles and the Southwest Louisiana region. Seth Citron, Sales and Leasing Executive, will lead the company’s growth efforts in the area.
Citron, a former Lake Charles resident, has led brokerage services remotely in the area over the last couple of years, and will now be returning to establish a physical presence in the market beginning Monday, August 14th.
Southwest Louisiana has seen a considerable economic boom over the last couple of years. Population growth, increased job opportunities, and rapid business expansion is making Lake Charles one of the fastest growing regions in the state. The progression is also spurring commercial real estate development that is quickly attracting new retailers and business tenants.
“Stirling Properties has been active in Southwest Louisiana for many years, but the recent economic growth has provided us an opportunity to expand our services and put boots on the ground in the market again,” said Marty Mayer, President & CEO of Stirling Properties. “Having previously lived in Lake Charles, Seth is familiar with the area. He understands the local industry and will be a huge asset to the community.”
“As part of our overall company growth strategy, Stirling Properties continues to expand and diversify our brand and footprint in Southwest Louisiana—in all facets of commercial real estate opportunities,” said Citron. “Growth in this region has reached unprecedented heights and we look forward to serving its developing real estate needs.”
Citron joined Stirling Properties’ Commercial Brokerage Division in 2007. With a focus that includes representation of both landlord and tenant needs, he has a diversified portfolio of transactions in multiple facets of commercial real estate. He has knowledge and experience in numerous fields, including industrial, land, office, retail, and specific site selection needs. His particular geographical areas of expertise include Southwest Louisiana and specific markets of Lafayette, Lake Charles, Baton Rouge, Houma, and Alexandria. Citron is an active member of the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC) and Retail Brokers Network (RBN).
Seth Citron can be reached at (337) 572-0273 or scitron@stirlingprop.com
Stirling Properties Awarded Management and Leasing Contract of Ambassador Plaza
Stirling Properties commercial real estate company has been awarded the management and leasing contract for Ambassador Plaza in Lafayette, Louisiana.
Ambassador Plaza, shadow-anchored by Albertsons, is a 29,405-square-foot retail center located at the corner of Ambassador Caffery Parkway and West Congress Street. It is 92% leased and has a great mix of retail and restaurant options. Tenants include Fruiti Smoothie, Little Caesars, Lotus Garden, Luxurious Nails, Omega Dentistry, Planet Beach, Saigon Noodles, Style America, Subway, The Jambalaya Shoppe, WellCare, and Wingstop.
The retail center was recently acquired by a local ownership group that has contracted with Stirling Properties for asset management services.
“Stirling Properties is excited to add Ambassador Plaza to our growing commercial portfolio. We have been active in the Lafayette market for quite some time and have a great management and leasing team as well as support staff on the ground. We look forward to working with the new ownership group to create the best return on investment for their asset,” said Donna Taylor, Sr. Vice President of Asset Management & New Business with Stirling Properties.
Stirling Properties manages nearly 18 million square feet of commercial property, with 120 million square feet of property and land for sale or lease. Other Stirling Properties management and development projects in Lafayette include Ambassador Town Center, Stirling Lafayette, River Marketplace, and the 1819 Pinhook Office Building, just to name a few.
For asset management information, contact Donna Taylor at (985) 246-3758 or dtaylor@stirlingprop.com.
Melissa Warren Named As Sales & Leasing Executive
Stirling Properties commercial real estate company is pleased to announce that Melissa Warren, CCIM, has joined its Commercial Brokerage Division as Sales and Leasing Executive. She will work from the company’s New Orleans office located in the Pan American Life Center at 601 Poydras Street.
Warren has provided clients with commercial real estate advisory services since 2001. Her focus is on industrial, office, and retail sales and leasing, as well as tenant and landlord representation.
On behalf of clients, Warren has been responsible for conducting investment, market, and financial analysis, as well as negotiating purchase and lease contracts. She coordinates transaction due diligence, site selection services, user decision analysis, and assists clients with planning and zoning matters. Additionally, she has served as the leasing agent for East Jefferson General Hospital and has represented Whitney/Hancock Bank in the disposition of distressed commercial assets and office leasing.
Prior to joining Stirling Properties, Warren was a senior real estate advisor for Grubb & Ellis/ Sawyer Commercial in Gulfport, Mississippi. In 2005 and 2006, she was awarded the Top Producer Ruby Award by the Gulf Coast Association of Realtors (GCAR) for completing the largest number of commercial transactions on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. In 2010, she was inducted into GCAR’s Top Producer Round Table for lifetime achievement.
Warren graduated from Mississippi State University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English. In 2006, she was designated a Certified Commercial Investment Member (CCIM). She is affiliated with the National Association of Realtors (NAR), New Orleans Metropolitan Association of Realtors (NOMAR) – Commercial Investment Division (CID), CCIM Institute, Louisiana Chapter of CCIM, International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC), and Louisiana Commercial Database (LACDB).
Melissa Warren, CCIM, can be reached at (504) 620-8148 or mwarren@stirlingprop.com.
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.
Announcing New Ochsner Medical Facility at The Grove
Last Thursday, June 8, Stirling Properties participated in the announcement of Ochsner Health System’s new medical facility at The Grove in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
The project includes a new five-story, 155,000-square-foot medical office building, and a 30,000-square-foot ambulatory surgery center. The new clinic will be located along the I-10 Bluebonnet/Siegen corridor on approximately 25 acres of property as part of the High Grove development planned near the Mall of Louisiana and fronting Interstate 10. Anticipated completion is scheduled for early 2019.
Stirling Properties will be responsible for over $15 million of infrastructure improvements, as well as the completion of the 11-mile BREC multi-use trail through the site. On behalf of Ochsner, Stirling has also handled pre-development efforts, including site selection, due diligence, economic feasibility, and state and local permitting coordination.
Scheduled infrastructure improvements include new roadways and a bridge across Wards Creek that will connect Grove Blvd. to the I-10 frontage road and ease traffic congestion. A new sewer lift station will be installed to serve the Ochsner facility, as well as replace an existing one that services several hundred homes in the neighboring Morning Glen and Audubon Terrace neighborhoods. A new underground drainage system will be built to accommodate water runoff from surrounding property in addition to the Ochsner site, which will result in improved drainage condition in future storm events.
During the construction phase, these new projects will bring nearly 1,630 construction jobs in addition to over 450 permanent jobs that will be relocated from the existing Summa clinic.
Additional project announcements are forthcoming.
