President’s Message: Don’t Just Talk About the Weather – Do Something
Just as we are enduring the dog days of a long hot summer in South Louisiana, so too it seems that the entire country (and the world for that matter) is enduring the economic equivalent of dog days. While we can look forward to that first cool snap of fall soon, it seems that we will be waiting much longer for any such economic relief.
Mark Twain once said, “Everybody talks about the weather but nobody does anything about it”.
That quote sounds very much akin to what’s happening in Washington these days – everybody’s talking about the economy but nobody is really doing anything about it. I have always believed that you have to focus on the things you can control and not spend wasted time and energy on those you can’t. Stirling Properties, I believe, is doing just that. (more…)
Louisiana Earns Several Top Rankings in Recent Months
Louisiana has continued its reign at the top in several national rankings over recent years. Many of these top rankings are not just one-time accolades…Louisiana has staying power at the top. In rankings where Louisiana has room to improve, the state has been gaining traction in its move to the top. With Louisiana achieving so much recognition, it’s sometimes hard to keep track, so here is a quick snapshot of some state & regional rankings achieved over the last few months.
- #18 in Business Climate Rankings, up 22 spots since 2008
#2 in U.S. for incentives & economic development agency performance
– Pollina Corporate Real Estate, August 2011 (more…)
Stirling Properties Completes First Multi-Family Acquisitions
COVINGTON, Louisiana —- (AUGUST 22, 2011) Stirling Communities I, LLC, an entity of investors led by Stirling Properties, successfully completed their first acquisition which includes three Louisiana apartment communities in Lafayette and one in Baton Rouge, for a total of 370 units. The back-to-back deals closed on August 2 and August 17, 2011, with loan origination through Walker & Dunlop’s multi-family finance group and financing through Freddie Mac. (more…)
Stirling Properties Officially Announces Sam’s Club is Coming to River Chase
COVINGTON, Louisiana —- (AUGUST 16, 2011) Stirling Properties, the developer of River Chase, officially announces that Sam’s Club is coming to River Chase Shopping Center, the largest open-air retail center in St. Tammany Parish. Sam’s Club closed today on the purchase of a 16.58 acre site for the development of a new, 136,000 square foot store at River Chase. Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., the parent company for Sam’s Club, has committed to build their top of the line prototype building at the River Chase site, which will not resemble any other Sam’s Club in Louisiana.
This new Sam’s Club will be the only one in western St. Tammany and construction on the predominantly stone and brick facade will begin soon as Sam’s has already obtained all the necessary permits to begin. The anticipated opening is scheduled for fall 2012 and is expected to provide 100+ jobs for the area.
For more information about the Sam’s Club deal or River Chase development contact Townsend Underhill, Vice President of Development for Stirling Properties, at tunderhill@stirlingprop.com or by phone at (985)-246-3785.
Stirling CEO Comments on “Gameloft to open major development studio in New Orleans”
Yesterday’s announcement of Gameloft’s decision to expand to New Orleans is a significant milestone for our city- not necessarily because of the number of jobs but for what it represents.
The announcement culminates over a yearlong effort by LED (Louisiana Economic Development) and GNO, Inc (Greater New Orleans, Inc. Regional Economic Alliance) to lure this company whom they had targeted.
When Gameloft first started looking, New Orleans didn’t even hit the radar screen, but in the end, we beat out cities such as Austin and Seattle to become only the second US based location for this French company and also the only one in Louisiana that will actually be developing video games here.
I believe that this is only the tip of the iceberg.
Click here to read the news release by LED.
Martin A. Mayer
President & CEO
Stirling Properties Welcomes Scott Macdonald to Its Team
BATON ROUGE, Louisiana —- (JULY 13, 2011) Stirling Properties welcomes Scott Macdonald to its Commercial Brokerage Team as a specialist in office and industrial leasing. He will work out of the company’s Baton Rouge office located at 8550 United Plaza Blvd., Suite 303 where he will spearhead all leasing and marketing efforts of all United Plaza offices.
“With more than 11 years of commercial real estate knowledge and a background that includes the negotiation and successful closing of over $450 million in sales, Scott knows what it takes to drive new business in highly competitive markets,” said Grady Brame, Executive Vice President and Partner of Stirling Properties. “His caliber of expertise adds depth to our roster and strengthens the breadth of services we provide our clients.”
Prior to joining Stirling Properties, Mr. Macdonald was Vice President of Cassidy Turley/CPS, a full-service commercial real estate brokerage company located in Santa Clara, California. His primary focus while with CPS was office, R&D and manufacturing leasing and sales. Some of Mr. Macdonald’s major clients include AkzoNobel, Barry Swenson Builder, Integrated Device Technology, iStar Financial, Nearon Enterprises, PS Business Parks and Xangati, Inc.
Mr. Macdonald is a Louisiana native and earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Louisiana Tech University in Ruston, Louisiana.
