Monthly Archives: November 2010

Bradford Allen Adds Three New Associates to Team

CHICAGO – Jeffrey Bernstein and Laurence Elbaum, principals and co-founders of Bradford Allen are pleased to announce that Justin Kessler, Geoff Winston, and Brandon Haddock have joined the Chicago–based commercial real estate firm as associates.  

The three new associates are among several new hires recently announced by Bradford Allen. Justin Kessler has more than five years experience in commercial real estate, most recently serving as a Managing Director at ONCOR International for the Europe, Middle East & Africa office based in London.   Kessler is a graduate of the University of Missouri in St. Louis and is a member of the Young Professionals of Chicago.  

Geoff Winston is a former associate for Howard Ecker & Company as well as a property acquisition specialist for The Department of Veteran Affairs. Winston is a graduate of American University in Washington D.C., and a member of the Young Office Brokers Association (YOBA) and also serves on the Strategy Committee for the Union League Boys and Girls Club of Chicago. 

Brandon Haddock joins Bradford Allen from Gordon Realty, a Michigan real estate firm, where he served as a property manager and leasing assistant. He was also previously employed as a sales associate for an international plastics manufacturer in the Czech Republic. Haddock is a graduate of Michigan State University and a member of YOBA.

About Bradford Allen 
Bradford Allen Realty Services, a Chicago-based commercial real estate firm, makes a full range of services and expertise available to entrepreneurial and corporate business entities, and not-for-profit organizations. The firm provides real estate strategy, advice, marketing, and transaction execution for occupiers, investors and owners of real estate. Please visit our website at www.bradfordallen.com.

 

Bradford Allen Arranges Strategic Relocation for the LaSalle Network

CHICAGO – Bradford Allen Realty Services is pleased to announce that The LaSalle Network, a leading provider of professional staffing and recruiting services throughout the Midwest, is relocating their northwest Chicago office location to 2355 S. Arlington Heights Road in Arlington Heights from neighboring Schaumburg, Illinois.  Laurence Elbaum, principal and co-founder and Joel Berger, managing director at Bradford Allen represented The LaSalle Network while Kevin Gillihan, associate, also of Bradford Allen, represented the building’s owner, Iron Horse Partners.

The LaSalle Network’s lease expired in December of 2009, but given the market conditions leading up to that time, the firm chose to postpone lease negotiations.  When The LaSalle Network was ready to consider a lease renewal, their landlord was facing foreclosure. The building was subsequently placed into receivership and The LaSalle Network began to incur significant penalties related to its holdover.

“The LaSalle Network went through an extensive search throughout the Schaumburg market,” Elbaum said.  “They chose the Arlington Heights property for its exceptional visibility from I-90, easy access, and because the ownership was willing to assume their hold-over costs, reduce their out-of pocket expenses and provide them with the long-term solution necessary to accommodate their operations.”

The LaSalle Network, which maintains additional offices in both Downtown Chicago and Oak Brook, leased approximately 4,000 square feet of space within the five-story, 50,700 square foot Arlington Heights property.  The building is situated at the Southeast corner of South Arlington Heights Road and Algonquin Road and adjacent to I-90’s four-way interchange providing easy access to O’Hare International Airport and the area’s extensive business amenities.

About Bradford Allen 
Bradford Allen Realty Services, a Chicago-based commercial real estate firm, makes a full range of services and expertise available to entrepreneurial and corporate business entities, and not-for-profit organizations. The firm provides real estate strategy, advice, marketing, and transaction execution for occupiers, investors and owners of real estate. Please visit our website at www.bradfordallen.com.

 

Bradford Allen Completes Multiple Leases at Kinzie Design Center

CHICAGO – Bradford Allen Realty Services has completed four new leases over the last three months for a combined 12,200 square feet of office space at the Kinzie Design Center, 220-230 W Kinzie in Chicago, IL.  The leases signed on behalf of Chicago based owner, Kinzie Street Partners, LLC are:  Vine Street Trading for 4,290 square feet, The Chartis Group leasing 3,593 square feet, The Well Advertising for 2,174 square feet, and Visual Wright leasing 2,174 square feet.

Bradford Allen senior managing director Craig A. Nadborne and director, Steve Fitzgerald, represented ownership in all four transactions.  Both The Chartis Group and The Well Advertising are relocating from nearby buildings.  This will be the first office for Visual Wright, a start-up graphic design and marketing firm, and Vine Street Trading is an early restructure, extension and expansion. The four-story 77,000 square foot office/showroom building in River North is now 82% leased.

“These recent leases reflect the Kinzie Design Center’s appeal as a prime office location for mid-size businesses and design firms,” said Jeffrey Bernstein, a principal and co-founder of Bradford Allen and the leader of the firm’s growing agency practice.  “The property offers access to the eclectic, creative River North community, with a significant cost advantage over the area’s other available offerings.”  

Located at Kinzie and Franklin, the Kinzie Design Center is situated directly across the street from the Merchandise Mart. The property was constructed in 1904 and features newly renovated facades, a brand new lobby with keycard entry, dramatic high ceilings and exposed brick. The Kinzie Design Center is located on West Kinzie Street, one block from the Franklin Street El stop within the Merchandise Mart. The property’s River North location is within walking distance to the Central Business District and East Bank Club.

About Bradford Allen 
Bradford Allen Realty Services, a Chicago-based commercial real estate firm, makes a full range of services and expertise available to entrepreneurial and corporate business entities, and not-for-profit organizations. The firm provides real estate strategy, advice, marketing, and transaction execution for occupiers, investors and owners of real estate. Please visit our website at www.bradfordallen.com.

 

Sameena Mustafa Basit Joins Bradford Allen as Managing Director

CHICAGO – Jeffrey Bernstein and Laurence Elbaum, principals of Bradford Allen have announced that Sameena Mustafa Basit has joined the Chicago-based firm as managing director.

“Sameena has over six years of experience as a successful tenant representative,” said Elbaum.  “Her background, expertise and talent will provide a solid foundation for her success at our firm.  We are pleased to have her on board as we continue to grow our Chicago office.”

As a managing director, Basit specializes in tenant advisory services throughout Chicago and has advised clients in the non-profit, education, engineering, information technology, finance and insurance sectors. Most notably, Basit represented the Noble Network of Charter Schools in lease negotiations, making it the first charter high school within the Loop at 1 North State Street. Other recent transactions include relocations for Alliance of Chicago Community Health Services, HCL America and the KIPP Foundation.  After beginning her commercial real estate career with CB Richard Ellis, Basit most recently held the position of managing director with ProTen Realty Group where she became the firm’s youngest senior member of the brokerage team. 

Prior to her career in real estate, Basit spent 10 years developing business and management expertise at companies such as Rand McNally and Planned Parenthood. Basit is also a dedicated member of her community with a long-standing history of service. She currently serves on boards at the YWCA Evanston/North Shore, United Way of Metropolitan Chicago and the Chicago Community Trust. Basit is a licensed real estate professional in the state of Illinois and holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Northwestern University. She currently resides in Chicago.

About Bradford Allen 
Bradford Allen Realty Services, a Chicago-based commercial real estate firm, makes a full range of services and expertise available to entrepreneurial and corporate business entities, and not-for-profit organizations. The firm provides real estate strategy, advice, marketing, and transaction execution for occupiers, investors and owners of real estate. Please visit our website at www.bradfordallen.com.