Stirling Assists Birmingham Water Works in Acquiring New Industrial Life Science Facility
Stirling Advisors Juhmad M. Hollis and Melissa Warren, CCIM represented Birmingham Water Works (BWWB) in their search to acquire a new building for the development of their new EnviroLab facility. The acquisition marks a pivotal moment in the BWWB’s relentless pursuit of advancing water quality standards in the Birmingham metropolitan area.
Through their collaborative efforts, BWWB acquired the class A R&D facility in Oxmoor South Industrial Park, located at 100 Lucerne Lane, Birmingham, AL. The newly acquired building measures 30,000 SF of office, wet lab, and warehouse space and is situated on 5.7 acres. Upgrades are planned for the facility to incorporate state-of-the-art technology for water-testing laboratory services. The life-sciences facility will serve as a cornerstone in the Birmingham Water Works’ unwavering commitment to ensuring the utmost in water quality for the communities it serves.
Juhmad M. Hollis and Melissa Warren, Advisors with Stirling, guided Birmingham Water Works through the intricate process of acquiring the building. Their profound knowledge of the Birmingham real estate landscape, combined with their skills in life science and industrial transactions, contributed significantly to the successful realization of this venture.
“We are excited to have assisted the Birmingham Water Works in acquiring their new EnviroLab facility,” stated Melissa Warren, Senior Advisor at Stirling. “This accomplishment not only exemplifies our commitment to delivering exceptional real estate solutions but also highlights our collaborative efforts with the Birmingham Water Works’ executive team and engineers.”
“As a commercial real estate advisor, it was an honor to work with Birmingham Water Works to assist them in achieving their goals. Having been born and raised in the City of Birmingham, this was a particularly important project because it impacts my family and the people in my community,” said Juhmad M. Hollis, Advisor, Associate Broker at Stirling. “Stirling has allowed me to not only utilize my Alabama real estate license but also engage in meaningful endeavors that resonate deeply with my roots and empowers me to seamlessly integrate my expertise, making a tangible and positive impact on the city that raised me.”
Will Barrois Promoted to Vice President and Manager of the Commercial Advisory Division
Stirling is pleased to announce Will Barrois’ promotion to Vice President and Manager of the Commercial Advisory Division. Stirling’s Advisory Division features specialists in all aspects of commercial real estate, including retail, office, industrial, healthcare, and investment sales. With offices throughout the Gulf South region, our team of over 50 Advisors is equipped with in-depth industry knowledge and sophisticated market research to identify opportunities for our clients.
“Will has been an integral part of the Stirling family since 2002 when he joined as an Advisor in our Covington Office,” stated Marty Mayer, President and CEO of Stirling. “Over the years, he has displayed exemplary leadership and expertise, making him an ideal candidate to lead the division to new heights.” In 2014, Will was pivotal in expanding Stirling’s operations to the Eastern Region, serving as VP and Regional Manager for the Eastern Gulf South and qualifying broker for Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida.
Throughout his journey, Will has demonstrated his ability as an industry leader, holding multiple regional leadership positions in the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC), acting as a Trustee for the Alabama Center for Real Estate (ACRE), and graduating from the esteemed Leadership Alabama program, among numerous other accomplishments.
“I am incredibly honored and excited to take on the role of Vice President and Manager of the Commercial Advisory Division at Stirling,” said Will Barrois. “Having been a part of Stirling for over two decades, I have witnessed firsthand the dedication and passion that drives our team. During this period, we have grown to 8 offices, over 50 Advisors, over $2 Billion in commercial sales volume, and over 530 million square feet of commercial properties and land for sale or lease. I am committed to fostering a culture of collaboration and innovation within the division and continuing Stirling’s legacy of excellence in the commercial real estate industry.”
Stirling Properties Welcomes Chip Brown and Jay O’Brien to Its Commercial Brokerage Team in Mobile, AL
Stirling Properties welcomes Chip Brown and Jay O’Brien to its Commercial Brokerage Team. Brown and O’Brien will work out of the company’s Mobile, Alabama, office located at 1 St. Louis Street, Suite 4100.
Chip Brown joins the team as a commercial real estate advisor. He is a REALTOR® and entrepreneur and the former president of his family-owned commercial real estate company, E.H. Brown and Associates, located in Mobile.
Brown is a veteran of the Alabama Army National Guard and a former Advisor in Afghanistan for NATO and US Forces Afghanistan. A lifelong resident of South Alabama, he serves as a State Representative for South Mobile County and sits on the Urban & Rural Development Committee, Economic Development & Tourism Committee, Insurance Committee, House Rules Committee and Mobile County Legislation Committee.
He is a former Chairman of the board for the Make A Wish Foundation of Alabama and for several years has volunteered his time serving as a youth baseball, football, soccer and basketball coach. Brown is a graduate of Troy State University, The Defense Department Information School and has a master’s degree from National University.
Jay O’Brien, CCIM, serves as a senior advisor, specializing in land brokerage, site selection, tenant representation and property management. With more than 23 years of experience, he has been involved in the development, acquisition and disposition of over 10,000,000 square feet of retail, multifamily and industrial properties throughout Alabama, Mississippi and the Florida Panhandle. He holds the prestigious Certified Commercial Investment Member (CCIM) designation, commercial real estate’s global standard for professional achievement.
A lifelong resident of Mobile, O’Brien is an entrepreneur, local business owner and the president of his family-owned real estate company, J. L. O’Brien & Associates, Inc., in Mobile. He is a member of the National Association of Realtors, State Board of Realtors and the Mobile Board of Realtors. He is also a former State Board Member and Officer with the Coastal Conservation Association (CCA) of Alabama. O’Brien graduated from Auburn University with a degree in Building Science.
Chip Brown can be reached at cbrown@stirlingprop.com / (251) 581-5173. Jay O’Brien, CCIM, can be reached at jobrien@stirlingprop.com / (251) 379-1420.
Stirling Properties Brokers Sale of 38,443-SF Former Bassett Home Furnishings Building in Gulfport, MS
Stirling Properties recently brokered the sale of the 38,443-square-foot former Bassett Home Furnishings building located on 1526 E. Pass Road in Gulfport, Mississippi. The retail/warehouse building sits on 3.3 acres of land adjacent to the new Rouses Market.
The buyer was Lagniappe Construction, a national senior living construction company, who plans to utilize the facility for its home office staff, training, and regional material logistics.
Bassett Home Furnishings closed this location in June of 2019 after 15 years in business, and the building was placed on the market for sale.
Melissa Warren, CCIM, Senior Advisor with Stirling Properties, represented the seller on the sale of the property. Stephanie Schmitt, with Century 21, worked with the buyer.
Stirling Properties Adds Two Advisors to Commercial Real Estate Team
Rankin Bihm recently joined the Stirling Properties team as an Advisor, working dually from the company’s Lafayette and Lake Charles offices. He is primarily focused on the sales and leasing of retail properties, with representation of both tenants and landlords. His specific geographical expertise is on the Southwest Louisiana market area.
Prior to joining Stirling Properties, Bihm served as a Multimedia Consultant, where he advised business clients on digital marketing and promotional strategies. He has a strong understanding of market research and analyzing competitor data, which translates to the real estate market, where he helps his clients to effectively locate and market properties. He also has extensive experience in the hospitality and service industry, where he honed superior customer service and relationship-building skills.
Bihm is a graduate of the University of Louisiana-Lafayette with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration and was a member of the National Society of Leadership and Success. He is currently enrolled in the University of Louisiana-Lafayette MBA program.
Rankin is a volunteer with St. Joseph Parish Vacation Bible School and Keep Lafayette Clean. He is an avid reader and enjoys listening to podcasts—and all things sports.
Blaise Brown also joins the Stirling Properties’ commercial real estate team as an Advisor, working from the company’s New Orleans office. With a geographic focus on New Orleans East and St. Bernard Parish, he specializes in the sales and leasing of retail and industrial properties and raw land.
Brown is a member of the New Orleans Metropolitan Association of Realtors (NOMAR), the Commercial Investment Division of NOMAR (CID), International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC), and Retail Brokers Network (RBN).
Born and raised in NOLA, Blaise is a graduate of St. Augustine High School and currently resides in New Orleans East. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Justice and Peace Studies from Georgetown University in Washington, D.C., where he played football and was named the Team Captain his Senior year.
While in Washington, Blaise served as a Sursum Corda educational tutor, helping to implicate new techniques of reading for children in the poverty-stricken neighborhoods. He helped to create opportunities and practices of learning between tutors and tutees while acting as a mediator between Georgetown students and Sursum Corda children.
Stirling Properties To Manage and Lease Hardy Court Shopping Center in Gulfport, Mississippi
Stirling Properties commercial real estate company has assumed the property management and leasing contract for Hardy Court Shopping Center located at 105 Hardy Court in Gulfport, Mississippi.
Hardy Court Shopping Center is a 225,400-square-foot neighborhood center situated at Pass Road and Courthouse Road, across the street from Gulfport High School. It is a historic retail hub that has provided goods and services to the Gulfport community for more than 50 years. The Center is currently 70% leased. Tenants include a great mix of national and local retailers including Big Lots, Froogel’s Cost + Foods, Badcock &more, Dollar General, Goodwill, Hibbett Sports, Cricket Wireless, and Subway.
Over the last couple of years, the Shopping Center has received a facelift to enhance the value and appearance of the Property. The building exterior was painted, the parking lot was repaved and restriped, and LED lights were installed to improve lighting in the parking area. New signage and additional improvements are in the works.
Stirling Properties manages more than 18 million square feet of commercial property with 120 million square feet of property and land for sale of lease. Other Stirling Properties management projects in the area include Handsboro Square and Orange Grove Shopping Centers in Gulfport, Choctaw Plaza in Waveland, Parkway Plaza in D’Iberville, and the Gulf Coast Non-Profit Center Building in Gulfport, just to name a few.
For leasing information, contact Melissa Warren, CCIM, at mwarren@stirlingprop.com or (504) 620-8148. For asset & property management information, contact Donna Taylor at dtaylor@stirlingprop.com or (985) 898-2022.
