| Published January 17, 2012 |
Volume 20, Number 1
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Harsch Investment Properties Builds Strong Tenant Relationships

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Julie Remy, Vice President of Harsch Investment Properties.
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By Nicole Zaro Stahl
NETWORK Editor
December, normally a quiet time in the world of commercial real
estate, was unusually busy in the Tri-Valley, reports Julie Remy, Vice
President of Harsch Investment Properties, which has its office in
Hacienda West. “It has been the most active month we’ve seen recently,”
she comments.
Hacienda has been a hot spot, attracting a number
of office users, including East Bay Regional Parks, relocating from
Hayward. “It’s exciting to see them come over the hill into
Pleasanton,” says Remy. Tenant improvements are currently underway for
the 9,000-square-foot suite in Stoneridge Business Center, to be
occupied in early February.
The light industrial/office
flex Stoneridge Business Center was the first property Harsch purchased
in the park, back in 1998. Also in the local portfolio are the Class-A
Hacienda West and Class-B Hacienda Lakes projects, giving Harsch a
well-rounded selection of space to offer its clients, typical of the
firm’s overall approach.
Founded in the 1950s and
headquartered in Portland, Oregon, the real estate investment,
development, and management company owns and operates more than 130
properties throughout six regional offices along the West Coast. Its
total portfolio encompasses over 21 million square feet of office,
industrial flex, and retail commercial properties in Portland, Seattle,
San Francisco Bay Area, Sacramento, San Diego, and Las Vegas. It also
includes more than 1,000 multi-family housing units.
The
diversity of space at the local level furthers the company’s goal of
having a full cycle of property types and sizes, not only to attract a
mix of clients but to accommodate existing tenants as their business
and real estate needs evolve. “Harsch strongly believes that our
tenant's success is our success," observes Remy. “It is always very
exciting to see tenants outgrow their space and relocate into another
suite or to one of our other properties. We value these relationships
and make sure that when a tenant renews they are in the right
space.”
As the East Bay Regional Manager, Remy is
responsible for all leasing and asset management activity in a
portfolio of office and industrial properties totaling 1.2 million
square feet. While commercial real estate remains a buyer’s market, she
has been noticing signs of recovery lately. “This year we have seen
positive absorption. Of course, we would be happy to see more activity
to fill the vacancies, but things seem to be going in the right
direction.” Some of the new business has been generated by larger
companies that are actually downsizing into the higher end of the
Harsch portfolio, up to 25,000 square feet, but Remy has also observed
a “flight to quality”—companies graduating from industrial to Class-A
office space, or home-based ventures moving into small industrial
units.
Also figuring among the current crop of Tri-Valley
newcomers are those migrating from Silicon Valley, where absorption
rates are also on the upswing. “As that market fills, more and more
companies will be moving or expanding to the Tri-Valley because of
lower prices and the availability of inventory,” she points out. “Plus
Hacienda is so convenient, right along the 580/680 corridor. The
location sells itself.”
To find out more, visit www.harsch.com.
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