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Development
Description
Background
Overview
After
talking with many owners, property managers and agents, the
Greater Orlando market has demonstrated that the demand for
office/warehouse, office/showroom and service center space for
the trades and skilled small business is very tight with little
or no vacancy. A recent study of leasing activity concluded,
"The typical 1,000 SF to 2,000 SF spaces in this market continue
to be very difficult to find. Rates in those spaces are advancing
steadily -- $.50 psf per quarter, and expansion opportunities
are very difficult to find. There are many small tenant prospects
that cannot find space in the 1,500 to 2,500 SF range." The
survey goes on to say:
- expansion
is very difficult if not impossible in many centers
- rates
are increasing and tenants have very little negotiating room
- choice
of location is very limited
- tenants
having to lease for longer periods (5 years) to secure space
- spaces
1,000 SF - 3,000 SF are most difficult to find
- landlords
are not willing to make major changes -- tenants must take
space "as-is"
The
Greater Orlando market can absorb over one million square
feet of office/warehouse and office/showroom development.
Several qualified sites have been identified, skilled contractors
have been recognized and respective construction lenders have
been acknowledged.
Collateral
Description
The
purpose of this development is to build an office/showroom and
service center for the trades and skilled small business. This
facility will offer affordable space, serve as a business incubator
and provide employment opportunities. This is a speculative
building and the type and activity of the tenants will include
light manufacturing, warehousing, wholesaling, storage, assembly,
and distribution of goods.
The
improvements will be built in one phase. The ground level improvement
will be a split face concrete block exterior wall with a pre-engineered
metal roof. The roof will be a standing seam metal roof with
a 3 on 12-pitch and 4' front overhang and soffit. The eve
height is 16' and the ridge is 22'. The interior walls are (1-hour)
drywall. The electric service will be individually metered and
the water will be master metered. Three-phase power will be
available.
The
development will have three buildings containing a total of
37,500 square feet. The 25 individual bays range in size from
1,500 to 4,500 square feet. The building is single side loaded
and the exterior signage will be uniform and aesthetically controlled.
The zoning allows for a 35% FAR but the Borrower has elected
a 27% FAR in order to increase parking.
Fire
sprinkler installation is not required as indicated by the Fire
Marshall because the roof material is non flammable.
Every
attempt will be made to maximize the buildable square feet while
at the same time providing an aesthetically pleasing development
that meets the municipality requirements.
Tenant
Mix
Developments
of this type have attracted a wide variety of professions, occupations
and vocations. Business avoided include (1) automotive related
(excluding after market accessories), (2) tenants that use toxins,
pollutants or contaminants, (3) crafts that create dust (4)
businesses that make noise or (4) use machines that viberate.
Risk
There
are two risks to consider: construction and market. The construction
risk is minimized because of the simplicity of construction,
selection of an experienced contractor and use of concrete block
walls and pre-engineered roof system. The market risk can be
measured. A comparable office/warehouse was recently completely
leased at market rates and terms within 140 days of completion.
The market is strong.
Feasibility/Marketability
Recently
Business Week reported that the U.S. Census Bureau published
a study called the County Business Patterns. This study looks
at the number of employees per establishment. Based on the data,
about 54% of U.S. workplaces have fewer than five employees.
According to the Seminole County Chamber of Commerce, 90% of
the businesses in Seminole County are classified as small business.
Following
is an example of what is presently occurring in the office/warehouse
market:
- John
Wilson, recently completed The Wilson Commerce Center. This
development is a 23,400 square foot office/warehouse located
in Casselberry. The Wilson development was 100% leased when
it was 140 days old and the contact rent and effective rents
were at pro forma. None of the tenants received free rent.
- Mack
Plumbing Systems built an office/warehouse behind Courtesy
Pontiac in Longwood. They leased eight of the 11 units in
two months.
- Longwood
Point is an office/warehouse located in Longwood on Wilma
Street that contains 7,230 square feet. This building leased
up in 57 days.
- Based
comparable developments and current experience, we anticipate
that American Commerce Center will lease up in 180 days.
Competition
and Comparables
There
is very little competition in comparison to the demand. I have
spoken to over 100 owners, tenants, lenders, brokers and investors
in order to establish market rates. Following is a sample of
current office/warehouse rents:
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Office/Warehouse
Rent Comparables
|
|
Development
|
Location
|
Description
|
Rent
|
|
Longwood
Point
|
Longwood
|
900
sq. ft. rented in March 2000
|
8.68
|
|
Wilson
Commerce Center
|
Casselberry
|
$7.50
to $11.00
|
8.08
|
|
7213
Sandscove Court
|
Winter
Park
|
$6
to $6.75 shell only + improvements
|
9.50
|
|
7201
Sandscove Court
|
Winter
Park
|
Well
appointed space
|
7.00
to 9.25
|
|
U-Lock-It
|
Orlando
|
1,200
sq. ft. units, 100% occupied
|
8.50
|
|
Dunhill
Properties
|
Orlando
|
Tenant
responsible for interior improvements
|
7.90
|
|
Hoffner
Industrial Park
|
Orlando
|
Basic
space
|
6.47
to 8.66
|
|
Range
|
|
8.00
to 9.50
|
|
Weighted
Average
|
|
8.00
- 8.25
|
Legal
Description
A
legal description will be obtained from the survey.
Land
Use And Zoning
The
site of the proposed American Commerce Center is located in
Seminole County. The site is vacant and the present Comprehensive
Land Use Plan and zoning classification permit the development
as proposed and described in this Executive Summary.
Services
The
municipal utilities, including water and wastewater are provided
by a municipality. The municipality has stated that the site
has access to a gravity fed manhole. No allowance has been made
for a lift station.
Contractor
There
are many qualified and available general contractors. Once the
land is under contract the Developer will select three contractors
to submit bids for the complete turnkey construction. The specific
contractor will be selected prior to the closing of the construction
loan.
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