NEW LISTING! Westgate Shopping Center
15 hours ago
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Congrats NAI Hiffman
Alliance 3PL signed a seven-year, 415,800-square-foot lease at the first of two massive distribution facilities at the CenterPoint Intermodal Center (CIC) in Elwood, IL. The locally based third-party logistics provider is consolidating its operations from two locations in Bolingbrook and Woodridge. The move positions Alliance 3PL next to the BNSF Logistics Park - Chicago. Alliance's proximity to the inland port will likely save the company considerably on travel expenses, said Brian McKiernan, development manager for landlord CenterPoint Properties. "We are confident that the operational savings Alliance 3PL achieves by locating in the park will grow significantly over time, which will underscore the forward-thinking mentality they displayed in this decision." Larry Hanley with Midwest Commercial Real Estate represented Alliance. Daniel P. Leahy and Adam Roth with NAI Hiffman represented CenterPoint Properties. Leahy pointed out that, in addition to saving on transportation, Alliance will also reap the benefits of relocating to a Foreign Trade Zone. CenterPoint Properties delivered the 1.2 million-square-foot distribution building at 20901 W. Walter Strawn Drive in October last year. Construction of the second facility, which would also measure 1.2 million square feet, is slated to commence this quarter. The distribution buildings are the largest speculative developments in the I-80 and I-55 regions. The CenterPoint Intermodal Center is comprised of more than 8.5 million square feet of industrial space and has created more than 8,200 jobs since opening in 2002. This article is courtesy of CoStar.
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Tearing Down Walls to Build Springfield
Minority Participation in Q5 is Making a Believer Out of Me
BY FLETCHER FARRAR
At a breakfast meeting with about 100 business leaders at the University of Illinois at Springfield last week the Springfield Chamber of Commerce gave its inaugural annual report on the big initiative it calls the Quantum Growth Partnership. The purpose was not only to report to the public and be accountable to the many businesses that invested $10,000 apiece in this $5.2 million effort to grow Springfield’s economy over the next five years. It was also to convince skeptics that the program has legs, that it’s not all talk and meetings and fancy brochures. Though Q5 is still more about good ideas than solid accomplishments, enough energy has been exerted by enough respected community leaders to persuade many who’ve been standoffish to join the effort. One told me as we left the breakfast that even though his firm had invested money to become a Quantum Growth “partner,” he hadn’t really expected much to come of it. Now, he says, he wants to get involved before he gets left behind.
What’s making a believer of me is the inclusion of “improve minority participation” as one of the program’s five basic goals, and the way the Chamber has gone about making that real. It joined forces with the Springfield Black Chamber of Commerce, whose president, Thomas Dorsey, heads Q5’s Diversity Development Council. “It’s our joint venture with the Black Chamber that helped to start making things happen,” says Gary Plummer, Chamber president. The push to make minorities a key emphasis came out of focus-group discussions in March 2006. Plummer credits a white businessman, real-estate broker Sam Nichols, with making the point others readily accepted. “We have two Springfields, one white and one black, and it’s not acceptable anymore,” Nichols said, according to Plummer. “We in the business community have to help break down the walls.”
Though much of the Diversity Development Council’s first year was spent establishing relationships and identifying goals, that grueling work will show fruit soon. Within the next 60 days the group expects to announce a program of grants and loans to help small businesses start up or expand, according to Tim Rowles, executive director of The Springfield Project, who’s serving as the Chamber’s point man for diversity development. “These will be small dollar amounts,” Rowles says, “but even $1,000 goes a long way when a business is starting or struggling to survive.”
Also soon to be announced is an expanded summer youth-employment program that Q5 will sponsor in partnership with The Springfield Project, which has operated a similar program for years. Aided by a grant from the Tracy Foundation, the program will place about 50 minority youth in salaried jobs with local businesses. Hispanic youth from Cass County will be included this year, Rowles said.
East-side redevelopment, a third area of the Diversity Development Council’s current focus, will take longer to show results but may have a greater long-term impact. What started as a housing subcommittee has expanded its vision to include commercial and retail development, in addition to residential, and has expanded its territory to include not only the central east side but the southeast and northeast as well. Rowles said the group is working with the Lee Carey Neighborhood Association to develop a comprehensive plan for the area bounded by South Grand Avenue and Cornell, King, and Pope, which could include condos and retail along South Grand. Q5 literature emphasizes that the rebuilding of neighborhoods requires “engaging neighbors first, to set the vision, tone, direction, and pace of development.”
Stay tuned. A lot could happen, or it could all fall apart. “I’m pleased that at least they have set up something to try to work with the minority community,” says Mike Pittman, a black entrepreneur who’s seen many programs come and go. “It’s too soon to tell whether anything solid will be accomplished.” Some projects fail when too many try to take credit. “Some people start out meaning well, and then they get an agenda to promote their own organization and stay on top. There are too many people trying to stay on the throne.” And Pittman has wondered whether there are enough smart risk-takers to make minority business efforts successful: “You not only have to have a quarterback, you need a receiver who can catch the ball. And know what to do once he catches it.”
Even so, many are giving credit to one quarterback for getting the game off to a good start. “Gary Plummer has been a breath of fresh air at the Chamber,” says Pittman. Mayor Tim Davlin calls Plummer “relentless,” a sentiment echoed by Rowles: “This guy is determined to make this happen. It took great courage to make diversity development part of the Q5 program.”
Fletcher Farrar, president of Illinois Times, is a member of the board of The Springfield Project.
At a breakfast meeting with about 100 business leaders at the University of Illinois at Springfield last week the Springfield Chamber of Commerce gave its inaugural annual report on the big initiative it calls the Quantum Growth Partnership. The purpose was not only to report to the public and be accountable to the many businesses that invested $10,000 apiece in this $5.2 million effort to grow Springfield’s economy over the next five years. It was also to convince skeptics that the program has legs, that it’s not all talk and meetings and fancy brochures. Though Q5 is still more about good ideas than solid accomplishments, enough energy has been exerted by enough respected community leaders to persuade many who’ve been standoffish to join the effort. One told me as we left the breakfast that even though his firm had invested money to become a Quantum Growth “partner,” he hadn’t really expected much to come of it. Now, he says, he wants to get involved before he gets left behind.
What’s making a believer of me is the inclusion of “improve minority participation” as one of the program’s five basic goals, and the way the Chamber has gone about making that real. It joined forces with the Springfield Black Chamber of Commerce, whose president, Thomas Dorsey, heads Q5’s Diversity Development Council. “It’s our joint venture with the Black Chamber that helped to start making things happen,” says Gary Plummer, Chamber president. The push to make minorities a key emphasis came out of focus-group discussions in March 2006. Plummer credits a white businessman, real-estate broker Sam Nichols, with making the point others readily accepted. “We have two Springfields, one white and one black, and it’s not acceptable anymore,” Nichols said, according to Plummer. “We in the business community have to help break down the walls.”
Though much of the Diversity Development Council’s first year was spent establishing relationships and identifying goals, that grueling work will show fruit soon. Within the next 60 days the group expects to announce a program of grants and loans to help small businesses start up or expand, according to Tim Rowles, executive director of The Springfield Project, who’s serving as the Chamber’s point man for diversity development. “These will be small dollar amounts,” Rowles says, “but even $1,000 goes a long way when a business is starting or struggling to survive.”
Also soon to be announced is an expanded summer youth-employment program that Q5 will sponsor in partnership with The Springfield Project, which has operated a similar program for years. Aided by a grant from the Tracy Foundation, the program will place about 50 minority youth in salaried jobs with local businesses. Hispanic youth from Cass County will be included this year, Rowles said.
East-side redevelopment, a third area of the Diversity Development Council’s current focus, will take longer to show results but may have a greater long-term impact. What started as a housing subcommittee has expanded its vision to include commercial and retail development, in addition to residential, and has expanded its territory to include not only the central east side but the southeast and northeast as well. Rowles said the group is working with the Lee Carey Neighborhood Association to develop a comprehensive plan for the area bounded by South Grand Avenue and Cornell, King, and Pope, which could include condos and retail along South Grand. Q5 literature emphasizes that the rebuilding of neighborhoods requires “engaging neighbors first, to set the vision, tone, direction, and pace of development.”
Stay tuned. A lot could happen, or it could all fall apart. “I’m pleased that at least they have set up something to try to work with the minority community,” says Mike Pittman, a black entrepreneur who’s seen many programs come and go. “It’s too soon to tell whether anything solid will be accomplished.” Some projects fail when too many try to take credit. “Some people start out meaning well, and then they get an agenda to promote their own organization and stay on top. There are too many people trying to stay on the throne.” And Pittman has wondered whether there are enough smart risk-takers to make minority business efforts successful: “You not only have to have a quarterback, you need a receiver who can catch the ball. And know what to do once he catches it.”
Even so, many are giving credit to one quarterback for getting the game off to a good start. “Gary Plummer has been a breath of fresh air at the Chamber,” says Pittman. Mayor Tim Davlin calls Plummer “relentless,” a sentiment echoed by Rowles: “This guy is determined to make this happen. It took great courage to make diversity development part of the Q5 program.”
Fletcher Farrar, president of Illinois Times, is a member of the board of The Springfield Project.
Sunday, April 12, 2009
NAI True Corporate Responsibility
NAI True is ethically and socially responsible to its clients, partners and employees, by practicing good stewardship of the environment in which we operate. As one of the largest commercial real estate services firms in the Springfield area, we recognize that we are presented with considerable opportunities to make a positive environmental impact and reduce our ecological footprint, and therefore have established the following environmental goals:
- We will comply to or surpass all government environmental regulations
- We will aim to reduce our use of all raw materials
- We will insure the protection of the environment surrounding our operations
- By advocating environmental responsibility to contractors, clients, and employees
- By reducing the negative impact of our own offices by lessening energy consumption and finding new ways to slow our usage of natural resources
- By helping clients identify what they can do to have their operations become more environmentally friendly
- By offering clients alternative options to help minimize their property’s energy consumption and emission output
- By initiating a dialogue with environmental professionals to chart progress and evaluate new options as they become available
NAI Global Selects NAI True to Serve Central Illinois
NAI Global, the world’s premier managed network of commercial real estate firms and one of the largest real estate services providers worldwide, announced today it enhanced its coverage in central Illinois as NAI True joins the NAI Global network.
NAI True is a new, full-service commercial real estate brokerage and advisory firm serving the greater Springfield market. The firm specializes in office, retail and industrial leasing, commercial property sales, investment consulting, office design/build and property management services.
“NAI True was formed under the leadership of industry veteran Sam Nichols, whose tremendous experience and deep relationships in the community make this the perfect firm to complement our members in the region,” said NAI Global Executive Vice President David Blanchard.
“NAI True is in a great position – one of opportunity,” said Nichols, who brings 32 years experience to bear for his clients. “Now is the time to learn from our new association with NAI brokerage firms around the region and around the world, and take full advantage of the services and support offered by NAI Global to better serve the metropolitan Springfield market."
NAI True is located at 3500 Mitchell Drive in Springfield. Headquartered in Princeton, New Jersey, NAI Global manages a network of 325 offices and 5,000 professionals in 55 countries across the globe.
http://www.naitrue.com
NAI True is a new, full-service commercial real estate brokerage and advisory firm serving the greater Springfield market. The firm specializes in office, retail and industrial leasing, commercial property sales, investment consulting, office design/build and property management services.
“NAI True was formed under the leadership of industry veteran Sam Nichols, whose tremendous experience and deep relationships in the community make this the perfect firm to complement our members in the region,” said NAI Global Executive Vice President David Blanchard.
“NAI True is in a great position – one of opportunity,” said Nichols, who brings 32 years experience to bear for his clients. “Now is the time to learn from our new association with NAI brokerage firms around the region and around the world, and take full advantage of the services and support offered by NAI Global to better serve the metropolitan Springfield market."
NAI True is located at 3500 Mitchell Drive in Springfield. Headquartered in Princeton, New Jersey, NAI Global manages a network of 325 offices and 5,000 professionals in 55 countries across the globe.
http://www.naitrue.com
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
