Stirling Properties Welcomes Chip Brown and Jay O’Brien to Its Commercial Brokerage Team in Mobile, AL
Stirling Properties welcomes Chip Brown and Jay O’Brien to its Commercial Brokerage Team. Brown and O’Brien will work out of the company’s Mobile, Alabama, office located at 1 St. Louis Street, Suite 4100.
Chip Brown joins the team as a commercial real estate advisor. He is a REALTOR® and entrepreneur and the former president of his family-owned commercial real estate company, E.H. Brown and Associates, located in Mobile.
Brown is a veteran of the Alabama Army National Guard and a former Advisor in Afghanistan for NATO and US Forces Afghanistan. A lifelong resident of South Alabama, he serves as a State Representative for South Mobile County and sits on the Urban & Rural Development Committee, Economic Development & Tourism Committee, Insurance Committee, House Rules Committee and Mobile County Legislation Committee.
He is a former Chairman of the board for the Make A Wish Foundation of Alabama and for several years has volunteered his time serving as a youth baseball, football, soccer and basketball coach. Brown is a graduate of Troy State University, The Defense Department Information School and has a master’s degree from National University.
Jay O’Brien, CCIM, serves as a senior advisor, specializing in land brokerage, site selection, tenant representation and property management. With more than 23 years of experience, he has been involved in the development, acquisition and disposition of over 10,000,000 square feet of retail, multifamily and industrial properties throughout Alabama, Mississippi and the Florida Panhandle. He holds the prestigious Certified Commercial Investment Member (CCIM) designation, commercial real estate’s global standard for professional achievement.
A lifelong resident of Mobile, O’Brien is an entrepreneur, local business owner and the president of his family-owned real estate company, J. L. O’Brien & Associates, Inc., in Mobile. He is a member of the National Association of Realtors, State Board of Realtors and the Mobile Board of Realtors. He is also a former State Board Member and Officer with the Coastal Conservation Association (CCA) of Alabama. O’Brien graduated from Auburn University with a degree in Building Science.
Chip Brown can be reached at cbrown@stirlingprop.com / (251) 581-5173. Jay O’Brien, CCIM, can be reached at jobrien@stirlingprop.com / (251) 379-1420.
Club 4 Fitness continues to flex its muscle across the Gulf South
Club 4 Fitness continues a rapid expansion effort across the Gulf South region with the addition of four new locations in Alabama and Louisiana. Justin Toomey, Broker Associate with Stirling Properties, and Kenneth Herring, Broker with Kerioth Corporation, worked with the all-inclusive fitness facility to identify and secure the latest retail locations.
Club 4 Fitness will occupy 47,061 square feet of retail space in McGregor Square located at 3930 Airport Blvd in Mobile, Alabama, and plans to open in the second quarter of 2019. Buff Teague and Leigh Dale Younce with JLL represented the landlord at McGregor Square.
The Club is also leasing 26,500 square feet of space in Wildwood Center located at 265 Lakeshore Parkway and 30,187 square feet at Brook Highland Plaza in Birmingham, Alabama, as well as 33,387 square feet at Country Club Plaza in Slidell, Louisiana. These three locations are expected to open in the fourth quarter of 2019 or early 2020.
The company currently has 14 fitness facilities operating or coming soon throughout Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama, with more on the way. Plans are in place for an aggressive expansion effort across the southeastern region over the next few years.
“Stirling Properties is proud to work with Club 4 Fitness to bring its quality fitness concept to our local markets in the Gulf South,” said Toomey. “As consumers continue to prioritize health, the fitness industry is growing faster than it has ever before—a trend creating significant opportunity for the commercial real estate sector and property owners trying to backfill empty retail space.”
Fitness and health clubs have morphed into a more than $30-billion-a-year industry in the U.S., with growth by at least 3-4% annually for the last ten years. According to research, there are currently more than 36,000 health and fitness facilities across the country boasting more than 60 million members.
Spending in health clubs is growing
(Compiled data from ICSC)
“We anticipate these numbers to grow even more—possibly double over the next 10-15 years—further signifying a very successful future for Club 4 Fitness and other fitness facilities,” said Toomey.
For leasing information, contact Justin Toomey at jbtoomey@stirlingprop.com or (251) 342-7229.
2017 Office Market Survey: Mobile CBD & West Mobile, AL
Stirling Properties is pleased to present the 2017 year-end Mobile Office Market Survey. This report, compiled by Jack Conger and Jill Meeks, Sales & Leasing Executives in our Mobile office, is intended to track average rental rates, occupancy rates, and average absorption rates for West Mobile and the downtown Central Business District (CBD) on office buildings greater than 20,000 square feet. It was created to be a resource for agents, as well as tenants, landlords, developers, lenders, fellow brokers and anyone else looking for information about the Mobile office market.
All information provided in this report would not be possible without the cooperation of our staff and colleagues and we would like to thank all of those who contributed.
Here’s an excerpt from the Mobile Office Market Survey:
The last two quarters of 2017 saw an increase in investment activity in the area with many notable transactions, redevelopments and sales.
In leasing news, Armbrecht Jackson, LLP has subleased a portion of the Regions Bank space at RSA Battle House Tower and will be vacating the top two floors of Riverview Plaza. The CBD occupancy rates had a slight increase from 68.3% to 70.2%, average rental rate of $17.28, and an absorption rate of .25%.
There were also many exciting economic announcements for Mobile, such as the partnership of Airbus and Bombardier that could bring a second aircraft assembly line to the market, and the decision of steelmaker SSAB Americas to move the headquarters of its American division from Chicago to Mobile. Rest assured, there are more to follow in the coming months and years!
Please click here to view and download the PDF of the Mobile Office Market Survey.
Stirling Properties hires Amanda Goldman as Sales and Leasing Executive
Stirling Properties commercial real estate company is pleased to announce Amanda Goldman as Sales and Leasing Executive for its Commercial Brokerage Division in Alabama. Goldman will work from the company’s Mobile office located at One St. Louis Centre, 1 St. Louis Street, Suite 4100.
Goldman has been active in real estate in Alabama for five years. She is a candidate for the designation of Certified Commercial Investment Member (CCIM).
Following 11 years of service in the United States Air Force, Goldman has spent more than 30 years in sales, developing an expertise in working with both national and local businesses and providing quality service.
Current affiliations include membership in the CCIM, as well as the Alabama Chapter of CCIM, and the National Association of Realtors (NAR). A native of Manhattan, New York, Amanda currently resides in Daphne, Alabama, and has three grown daughters.
Amanda Goldman can be reached at (251) 375-2490 or agoldman@stirlingprop.com.
Stirling Properties is located at One St. Louis Centre, 1 St. Louis Street, Suite 4100 in Mobile, Alabama. For more information regarding our services, please visit us at stirlingprop.com.
Jill Meeks Appointed as President of Mobile Commercial Investment Real Estate Club
Stirling Properties’ Senior Sales and Leasing Executive, Jill Meeks, has been appointed as President of the Mobile Commercial Investment Real Estate Club. She assumed duties in early December and will serve in the position for one year.
The Mobile Commercial Investment Real Estate Club is a networking group for industry professionals to exchange ideas, insight and data on marketing information regarding commercial and investment property among its members. Club goals include promoting professionalism, co-operation and education in commercial, investment and exchange transactions.
As club president, Meeks’ responsibilities will include running the weekly meetings and arranging for speakers to attend and present educational opportunities for the members. Meetings occur every Thursday at 7:00 am at the Mobile Area Association of Realtors.
“The Mobile Commercial Investment Real Estate Club provides tremendous resources for both beginning and experienced real estate professionals, and it’s a great tool to network and meet others in the industry,” said Meeks. “As president of the club, I hope to be able to generate more interest and participation by arranging for various speakers from the community to attend our meetings that will be beneficial to members.”
Meeks has been active in the commercial real estate industry for more than 27 years. Her focus areas include office and retail leasing, commercial sales, and landlord and tenant representation. She is responsible for overseeing the property management of over 400,000 square feet of retail and office space in Mobile and Baldwin Counties.
Jill Meeks works out of Stirling Properties’ Mobile Office located at One St. Louis Centre, 1 St. Louis Street, Suite 4100 in Mobile. For club membership and information, Meeks can be reached at (251) 375-2499 or jmeeks@stirlingprop.com.
Stirling Properties Brokers Acquisition for The Learning Tree, Inc. in Mobile, Alabama
Stirling Properties is pleased to announce the sale of property to The Learning Tree, Inc. in Mobile, Alabama, that will be used to house office and support staff, as well as allow for future school expansion.
The property is located at 5451 Able Court in Mobile, adjacent to The Learning Tree’s current facility, and was purchased from F&S. The acquisition includes four existing office/warehouse buildings totaling 15,190 square feet. With the new location, office and support staff will now be located next door to the school facility, rather than across town, creating a much more efficient and effective operation. They plan to occupy the space early 2017.
Nathan Handmacher, Stirling Properties Senior Sales & Leasing Executive in Mobile, handled the transaction. “My son attended Woody’s Song School, which is a program of The Learning Tree, so this transaction was rather personal and fulfilling for me,” said Handmacher. “I’m thrilled that we were able to help the school acquire this property that will streamline their operations, so they can continue to focus on the great work they do for the young people in our community.” Handmacher also volunteers for The Learning Tree and serves on the Board of Trustees for the group.
The Learning Tree is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing educational, residential and support services for children and adolescents with developmental disabilities, including autism. Programs are designed to help children lead more fulfilling and rewarding lives.
Access to educational opportunities and support services for families and children with developmental disabilities is crucial for their success and growth. In addition, educational expansion leads to economic development and increased job opportunities within the community.
The Learning Tree serves more than 600 children and families from across the state of Alabama and the southeast region of the United States. It operates seven programs in the north, central and southern regions of the state including residential and non-residential schools for children ages 5-21, as well as preschool services.
Stirling Properties is proud to serve the commercial real estate needs for Mobile and the surrounding Gulf South region. Stirling Properties manages more than 17 million square feet of property, with close to 100 million square feet of properties and land for sale or lease in the region. We specialize in brokerage services, development & redevelopment opportunities, acquisitions & investments, and property and asset management, over a wide array of property types.
Nathan Handmacher can be reached at nhandmacher@stirlingprop.com or (251) 342-7229.
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