President’s Message: Change and Progress
Our 40th year is now in full swing! Recently, we officially celebrated this milestone during our annual Stirling Honors recognition luncheon. My message for the day centered around Tony Robins’ quote “Change is Inevitable. Progress is Optional.” Stirling has survived and prospered over the years and it is clear that Stirling opted to choose progress. Here’s what 40 years looks like in a 4 minute video:[wpvideo k1cJ0dhf] During Stirling Honors, I also highlighted many of our recent achievements across the entire spectrum of our company:
- Commercial Brokerage: 2014 was a record year across all business lines – office, retail, industrial and investment sales – with volume up 65%!
- Magnolia Marketplace, New Orleans, LA: With partners JCH Development, we recently celebrated the grand opening on the site of a former housing project almost 10 years after Hurricane Katrina – significant not only for the location but the timing
- Ambassador Town Center, Lafayette, LA: Our 2nd joint venture with CBL is under construction with the official groundbreaking ceremony this month
- Fremaux Town Center, Slidell, LA: Phase I opened a year ago; Phase II is well underway with a scheduled October opening
- Academy Sports + Outdoors, Lake Charles, LA: Under construction with scheduled Summer opening
- Premier Centre, Mandeville, LA: Successfully landed our 1st Whole Foods deal, to open January 2016
- Offices at Mid-City Market, New Orleans, LA: Historic tax credit rehab adjacent to Mid-City Market, anchor Gallo Mechanical set to occupy and open by year end 2015
- Walgreens, Terrytown & Metairie, LA: Terrytown opened a year ago and was our first build-to-sell; fee development Metairie at Vets & Power Blvds is under construction
- Perkins Rowe, Baton Rouge, LA: Awarded leasing and management contract last year; condos now on the market, new block of apartments available this summer, office activity is brisk and more retailers/deals in the works
- Ansley Place, Houma, LA: Acquired the 246-unit Class A luxury garden-style apartment complex for $27.3 Million last year
- Alabama/Florida Expansion: Since opening in Mobile less than 2 years ago, we have acquired John Toomey & Company Inc. in Mobile, opened a Pensacola office and expanded/consolidated the Mobile office into One St. Louis Centre in Downtown Mobile; totaling 34 employees/brokers and 2.5 million square feet managed
- Santa Rosa Mall, Mary Esther, FL: Recently awarded contract for leasing and property management of this 734,000 square-foot enclosed mall
Reflecting back on these accomplishments in light of the 40th anniversary of our company, it underscores the fact that change is most certainly inevitable and makes me proud that we have chosen the option to progress.
I know that the future will continue to present us with twists and turns and unexpected new challenges; however, I am confident that we will face these challenges with the knowledge that we have built a strong foundation, rooted solidly in values which are timeless, consistent and enduring.
Indeed change is inevitable…and at Stirling Properties progress is not optional!
Stirling Properties Welcomes Andrew Dickman to its Mobile, AL Team
Stirling Properties is pleased to announce the addition of Andrew Dickman to the Commercial Brokerage Division as Sales and Leasing Executive. Andrew will work from the company’s Mobile, Alabama office located at 1 St. Louis Street, Suite 4100.
Andrew’s expertise and experience include development and brokerage of raw land, site selection and site analysis for national retailers and restaurant chains, marketing and disposition of existing or dark national retail and restaurant sites, Landlord and Tenant representation for big box retailers and small shop tenants and commercial real estate portfolio sales.
Andrew is a CCIM candidate and a graduate of Indiana State University. He can be reached at 251-375-2483 or andrewdickman@stirlingprop.com.
Stirling Properties Welcomes Frank Ferraro, Jr. to its New Orleans Team
Stirling Properties is pleased to announce the addition of Frank Ferraro, Jr. to the Commercial Brokerage Division as Broker Associate. Frank will work from the company’s New Orleans, Louisiana, office located at 615 Baronne Street, Suite 100.
Mr. Ferraro has over 22 years of experience in Commercial Real Estate. Prior to joining Stirling Properties, Mr. Ferraro was co-owner of a firm in Nevada until moving to New Orleans. He has successfully negotiated hundreds of sale and lease transactions, including complex land assemblages for master planned community developers and national homebuilders. He has a Bachelor’s Degree in Real Estate from Arizona State University and holds a Broker’s license in Nevada as well as Louisiana.
Mr. Ferraro can be reached at 504-620-8148 or via email at fferraro@stirlingprop.com.
Stirling Properties Welcomes Julie Watson to its Mobile, AL Team
Stirling Properties is pleased to announce the addition of Julie Watson to the Commercial Brokerage Division as Sales and Leasing Executive. Julie will work from the company’s Mobile, Alabama office located at 1110 Montlimar Drive, Suite 830.
Prior to joining Stirling Properties, Ms. Watson was with Keller Williams in Mobile, Alabama where she served as the firm’s sole commercial practitioner. Prior to that she served as an Agent with Hodges Commercial Real Estate in Montgomery and Hansen Realty where she sought business development opportunities throughout Alabama and the Chicago area.
Ms. Watson is a licensed Real Estate Broker in Alabama and can be reached at 251-375-2484 or via email at jwatson@stirlingprop.com.
Stirling Properties’ Beth Cristina Elected as President of Louisiana Realtors
Stirling Properties is pleased to announce that Beth Cristina, Senior Broker Associate in our New Orleans office, has been elected to serve as President of Louisiana Realtors.
Louisiana Realtors represents its membership on important real estate-related issues to state and federal government, while providing legal assistance, professional development opportunities, discounts, and other unique services for its membership of over 10,000 realtors statewide.
Beth was installed alongside 7 Louisiana Realtors officers and 11 local board presidents. In addition to her many duties and responsibilities as President of Louisiana Realtors, she will also serve as a director of the National Association of Realtors (NAR) during her term.
Beth has previously served as Secretary Treasurer, Director at Large, Vice Chair of the Strategic Planning Committee, Vice President of Region 4. She was also recently recognized for outstanding commercial achievement as a National Commercial Award recipient by the Commercial Real Estate Division of NAR and received the 2010 Realtor of the Year award from Louisiana Realtors.
Stirling Properties’ Beezie Landry Closes on Sale of Three Investment Properties
Stirling Properties’ Beezie Landry, Senior Sales and Leasing Executive, closed on the sale of three investment properties recently totaling over $15 million. In each of these transactions, Mr. Landry represented the Seller.
CVS
9006 Greenwell Springs Rd, Baton Rouge, LA– 13,824 SF
Patrick Luther & Matthew Mousavi of Faris Lee Investments assisted in the sale.
Buyer: Private New York based investor in a 1031 exchange.
Seller: Private Louisiana based investor
Price: $4.75 million
CVS has approximately nine years remaining in the lease as well as an option to extend the lease for up to another 20 years.
Park Plaza
3005 – 3147 Highway 14 (Gerstner Memorial Drive), Lake Charles, LA– 172,949 SF
Anchor: Conn’s
Buyer: Private Houston based investor
Seller: Weingarten Realty Investors
Price: $6 million
Value add opportunity with 40% vacancy
Woodmere Crossing
1540 Eastern Boulevard, Montgomery, AL– 42,257 SF
Co-listed with Jeff Barnes of Stirling Properties Mobile, Alabama office, as well as in connection with Auction.com.
Tenants: Petco, Books-A-Million, Jason’s Deli, and Sally Beauty Supply
Buyer: BV Belk Properties based in North Carolina
Seller: Woodmere Crossing was a lender owned property
Price: $4.4 million
Investment Sales is a linchpin to our brokerage division. Whether it’s achieving goals of a buyer or seller, Stirling can meet your needs. Our professionals are versed in asset acquisitions and dispositions of income-producing, distressed, vacant and REO properties. From institutional to private investors, we assist in finding and securing assets that have opportunities for added value and improved performance as well as assets with stabilized risk-adjusted returns.
For more information regarding Investment Sales contact Beezie Landry blandry@stirlingprop.com or 985-898-2022.
