2 area apartment complexes going strong, partner says

August 25, 2008|By Jerry W. Jackson, Sentinel Staff Writer

Despite the real-estate slowdown, apartment developer Lane Florida LLC is moving forward with its Orlando-area projects.

The company, launched in Orlando by Atlanta-based Lane Co. in 2006, is wrapping up work on portions of its first complex in Florida, a 384-unit development in Osceola County called Verano Apartments.

Work began on Verano, located just off Exit 244 of Florida's Turnpike near Walt Disney World, in November 2007. While leasing has begun and some of the one- to three-bedroom units are occupied, work is continuing and the complex should be completed by February, according to Mike Mulhall, the company's Florida regional development partner.

Mulhall said work has also begun on the company's even more ambitious downtown Orlando apartment tower, called The Montage. The 19-story high-rise is being built on Lake Avenue a block from Lake Eola.

"The apartment market remains strong, and we have the platform to deliver a quality product to meet the growing demand," Mulhall said.

A completion date for The Montage has not been set, but the company originally had hoped to start work on the 184-unit tower late last year, with the first of the units available in mid-2009. Two additional towers are planned for the 1.5-block site between Pine and Mariposa streets.

Commercial

Hansel Plaza Ltd. has completed an 11,500-square-foot, two-story professional center south of downtown Orlando in Edgewood. Rabits and Associates provided architectural-design services and Florida Engineering Group Inc., the anchor tenant, provided civil engineering services. A.D. Owens Construction was the general contractor. "We felt like this was the right time to develop this project. Real estate this close to the center of the city is limited, and contractors and materials are currently available," said Thomas Hansel, the general partner. "We are very optimistic about the future of south Orlando." The Edgewood property has been in the Hansel family for generations, dating to the post-Civil War era.

Expansions

Maitland-based Helman Hurley Charvat Peacock/Architects Inc. has opened an affiliated company and office in Puerto Rico. HHCP Architects P.S.C. will be headquartered in the Mercantil Plaza Building in San Juan. John Jordan, HHCP partner and director of the construction analysis, support and evaluation division, has been appointed president of the affiliated company, serving clients in Puerto Rico and the Caribbean. Clients include a large time-share project east of San Juan on the coast, and several hospital projects designed by the firm's health-care affiliate, HHCP Healthcare. . . .

Land-development consulting company Atwell-Hicks has leased offices in Orlando to complement its existing Tampa office and strengthen its ability to address customers' needs throughout Central Florida and along the region's east coast. Located on South Keller Road, the Orlando office will be led by David Call and local development specialist Douglas Kelly, both of whom have active projects and clients in the region.

Renovations

Albu & Associates Inc., a Winter Park general contractor and construction manager, is working on a 25,000-square-foot renovation and addition for the Church of Christ of West Orange's new educational facilities. The project includes the educational classrooms, a cafe, a media area, entry enhancement, refurbishing of the sanctuary's exterior, new landscaping and interior finishes including stonewall facing, millwork and stairs. The project will be completed next spring.

Dedication

Lake Highland Preparatory School is dedicating its new Harriett Coleman Center for the Arts on Tuesday. The 29,200-square-foot, $14 million facility contains two theaters and a three-level lobby with gallery space. Designed by RLF, an architecture, engineering and interior design firm in Winter Park, the 774-seat center will accommodate more than 2,000 students for productions, assemblies and events throughout the school year, and the auditorium space will be shared with community groups when possible.

Leases

GVA Advantis has handled a number of leases in Metro Orlando recently, including the signing of Hands of Central Florida, a private nonprofit that provides assistance to low-income home buyers and apartment dwellers, for 5,356 square feet on Orlando Central Parkway. Lisa Bailey, senior director, office/industrial, represented the landlord. . . .

Bobby Palta, senior associate in retail properties at CB Richard Ellis, represented Pebb Enterprises East Orlando LLC in signing a 10-year lease for a 1,198-square-foot space on University Boulevard in east Orange County, less than a mile from the main campus of University of Central Florida. The tenant, Generation H LLC, will be operating as Hummus House, a restaurant startup focused on fresh ingredients. It is planning to open in early September and will be joining Jimmy John's Gourmet Sandwiches, Cold Stone Creamery and Planet Smoothie.

Residential