Real Estate: Neenan Co. establishes foothold in Longmont office, industrial sector

LONGMONT — This city soon will have some much-needed industrial and office space. Weather permitting, The Neenan Co., based in Fort Collins, soon will complete the Diagonal Tech Center, two 61,600-square-foot buildings on 11 acres at the northwest corner of Pike Road and Fordham Street.

“We decided to build in Longmont because it is a hot market,´ said David Shigekane, project manager for the Tech Center. “This is our first spec building in Longmont. We feel that Pratt (Partnership) has done so well here, and we wanted to offer a competitive product.”

The Tech Center is owned by DTC LLC, a partnership of Neenan and other investors.

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Fujitsu Computer Products of America was the first tenant to sign up for space at the Tech Center. Fujitsu, a subsidiary of Tokyo-based Fujitsu Ltd., will occupy 30,000 square feet. The company now occupies 50,000 square feet at Clover Basin Drive and has more space than it needs. It has 65 employees in Longmont.

Neenan is in negotiations with another tenant that would occupy 40,000 square feet. Shigekane would not name names until a lease has been signed. The developer also is negotiating with others.

“Our goal is to have it filled soon,´ said Shigekane, adding that he thought the building would be popular with tenants because Neenan offers a higher-quality building than many developers.

“We have higher standards and a higher quality of service than most. We offer our tenants choices of colors and materials. Fujitsu will have a slate entryway and oak paneling in the reception area. We have our own architects and interior designers on staff, and we can offer tenants many options.”

The buildings at the Diagonal Tech Center will offer 14-foot ceilings, fiber optics and superior electrical capabilities. The design incorporates glass extensively to provide natural lighting. Wide column spacing offers optimum space configuration in the offices. The building also features good parking ratios and well-designed landscaping.

Officials say Longmont needs more such high-tech space. Wendi Nafziger, vice president of the Economic Development Association of Longmont, or EDAL, said her office has heard from many companies calling to inquire about relocating to Longmont.

“We’ve been pretty busy,” she said. “We have about 25 prospects a month looking at moving to Longmont. They are looking for high-tech, industrial and office space. The Diagonal Tech Center is one of the biggest new buildings in Longmont. I refer clients to Neenan when they come to me for information.”

EDAL studies show the amount of square footage occupied by local businesses increased by 677,112 square feet last year, and an additional 214,890 square feet is expected to be added this year.

Shigekane said Neenan officials expected the core and shell of the two buildings would be done last month, with Fujitsu moving in soon after. Both buildings will be finished at the same time.

“We are looking for other sites in Longmont (to build on)” Shigekane said. “We just want to offer a competitive product.”

He added that Neenan considers Longmont a growing and viable market and would be interested in building more office space.

Contributed by Susan de Castro McCann

Buffalo Signs moves to greener pastures

LOVELAND — In search of more space and greater visibility, Buffalo Signs has relocated from 510 E. Fourth St. in downtown Loveland to 4109 N. Garfield Ave. (U.S. Highway 287).

The new space, including two outbuildings, totals nearly 3,000 square feet, nearly double the space at the Fourth Street location.

Buffalo Signs owner Brad Hilzer is joined in the move by his wife, Sara, and her company, Media Masters.

Buffalo Signs designs and manufactures all types of signs, from banners to large electric signs, and Hilzer has added some retail stock signage such as “For Sale,” “For Rent” and “No Trespassing” signs. Media Masters offers creative advertising and marketing services.

Hilzer said the new space will enable the companies, both 10 years old, to grow.

Spiro Palmer expands his design center

FORT COLLINS — Fort Collins’ own design center owned and developed by Spiro Palmer of Palmer Flowers has broken ground on a new building on Mitchell Drive near Horsetooth Road

The center, located behind Palmer Flowers at 3710 Mitchell Drive, already houses several interior-decor tenants, including Lighting Designs, in one building. The new 13,000-square-foot facility to be built next door will be occupied by Expressions fine furniture store, The Floor Store, Pallo Windows and other tenants to be named. Expressions and The Floor Store will relocate from downtown locations to be at this one-stop-shop locale for interior design.

Expressions is due to move to the Design Center Sept. 1, and The Floor Store is scheduled to follow Oct. 1.

Palmer has owned and operated Palmer Flowers at 3700 S. College Ave. for 25 years. Drahota Construction is the contractor on his current project.

Genesis plans to double in size

FORT COLLINS — Genesis Fixtures Inc. has completed phase one of a three-phase expansion project. When all three phases are complete, the manufacturer of retail-store fixtures will have nearly doubled its space to 160,000 square feet.

Phase one is a 20,000-square-foot addition of space for manufacturing and assembly. Phase two, to be completed by Aug 1, will add another 41,000 square feet for assembly and finished-product storage. And the final phase, expected to be finished by the end of the year, will increase office space by 18,000 square feet.

Genesis makes, assembles, sells and installs retail store fixtures for customers such as Kinko’s, Hollywood Video and Sunglasses Hut. The facility is located on 34 acres at 3842 Redman in Fort Collins

Company president Gunter Preuss said that the expansion was planned but hastened by the company’s rapid growth — 84 percent growth in just the last year.

The company also has two plants in Loveland under the name Genesis Fixtures. Genesis Fixtures manufactures, sells and installs high-end residential cabinetry.

With the completion of phase two, one of the Loveland operations will be moved to the Fort Collins site, leaving a 40,000-square-foot facility still in operation in Loveland.

Genesis employs about 180 people at its Fort Collins and Loveland facilities, and Preuss says the company will probably hire about 20 more employees as the expansion progresses.

Benchmark Development, a Loveland-based construction management firm, is handling the project.

Sales & leases

Consultants in Gastrointestinal Diseases PC is building a new 6,022-square-foot office in the OakRidge Business Park at Oakridge Drive and Lemay Avenue. The five-physician medical group has been a provider of specialty medical services to the local community and surrounding areas of Wyoming, Nebraska and Eastern Colorado since 1980. The doctors’ office is currently located at 1330 Oakridge Drive. Medical and administrative offices, patient education facilities and an office-based procedure room will be contained within the new facility to be completed by June 1.

Anderson Family Chiropractic is relocating to new office space at The Landings, 300 Boardwalk Drive. East, Suite 4A. The lease deal for 1,775 square feet of space was handled by Rhys Christensen of Realtec and Brad Van Hull of Miscio & Stroud.

Thomas P. Kula and Daniel R. Bernth recently purchased the 3,140-square-foot office building located at 1241 Riverside Ave. in Fort Collins. The building is currently occupied by Northern Colorado Professional Services Inc. and David P. Thomas D.D.S. Veldman Morgan represented the owner, Gary D. Rechnitz, M.D. in the transaction.

Helen Taylor can be reached at (970) 221-5400, (970) 356-1683, (800) 440-3506 or via e-mail at htaylor@ncbr.com. Her fax number is (970) 221-5432.