Real Estate Briefs

Rhodes+Brito Architects, based in Orlando, recently completed design work for the new Eatonville Gateway that celebrates the city’s 125th anniversary.

Ruffin Rhodes, co-founder and partner at Rhodes+Brito Architects, said the project includes a large clock and a decorative archway that spans West Kennedy Boulevard at the city’s entrance with a graded crosswalk and landscape.

The arch, mounted on 30-foot brick pedestals, also supports a monumental signboard that tells an important part of Eatonville’s history: “The Town that Freedom Built. Oldest Incorporated African American Municipality in America.”

Orange County Property Appraiser Bill Donegan announced that his office has received for 2012 the lowest number of assessment appeals since 2001. Donegan’s office received notice from the Clerk of the Orange County Value Adjustment Board of 2,144 petitions filed for 2012. The deadline to file a petition was Sept. 18.

Information regarding proposed property valuations along with the petition process and filing deadline is provided each August on the Notice of Proposed Property Taxes mailed to each property owner and also made available on the Property Appraiser’s website ocpafl.org

Cuhaci & Peterson Architects, Engineers, Planners based in Orlando’s Baldwin Park, has appointed two new project architects and one construction administrator.

Amy Phillips, marketing manager at Cuhaci & Peterson, said Gevel Marrero has been hired as project architect. He has a bachelor of architecture degree from Wentworth Institute of Technology in Boston and has more than 17 years of experience with architectural design.

Chris Doig, project architect attending the University of Miami with a bachelor of architecture degree with a minor in computer information and has more than 15 years of experience in architecture.

Phillips said Tim Bass, was named construction administrator. He received his bachelor of science in construction from Ohio State University and has more than 20 years of experience in the construction industry.

Emerson International recently negotiated a long-term lease renewal for 6,593 square feet of office space at Major Plaza I, 5728 Major Center Blvd. in southwest Orlando.

Kenneth Koch, commercial portfolio director for Emerson International, negotiated the lease agreement representing the landlord. Shannon Rzeznikiewicz of Jones Lang LaSalle represented the tenant, ADP Inc.

NAI Realvest recently negotiated a new lease agreement for 10,000 square feet of industrial space in Suite 120 at 522 S. Econ Circle in Oviedo. Paul P. Partyka, managing partner at NAI Realvest, negotiated the transaction representing the Oviedo-based landlord M&O LP.

The tenant, Orlando Volleyball Academy Inc., represented by Robert Freeman & Co., leased the space for expansion of its operations into the eastern Seminole County region to take advantage of all the growth in the area, according to Partyka.

NAI Realvest recently negotiated two new lease agreements for retail and office space in Longwood and Winter Springs. Paul P. Partyka, principal and managing partner at NAI Realvest, brokered both transactions on behalf of the landlords.

Pastiche Home Décor LLC leased retail space, expanding into a larger facility at 840 E. S.R. 434 with excellent road frontage in Longwood. Gerald Korman is the landlord.

K. Hovnanian American Mortgage leased office space for its first mortgage division office in Central Florida – at 5626 Red Bug Lake Road in Winter Springs where Arthur Properties Inc. is the landlord.

Cuhaci & Peterson Architects, Engineers, Planners based in Orlando’s Baldwin Park recently completed design of renovations for the façade of the Publix supermarket at Southside Shopping Center on the corner of Orange Avenue and Michigan Street south of downtown Orlando. Publix Super Markets Inc. and Pineloch Management Inc. assigned the design work, which is complete, and construction is scheduled to commence before the end of the year.

NAI Realvest negotiated a new lease agreement for 3,240 square feet of office space at 1920 Boothe Circle in Longwood. Michael Heidrich, principal at the firm, brokered the transaction representing the landlord Ray A. Kennedy of Maitland. The tenant is Longwood-based Jon M. Hall Company.

Emerson International recently closed on a new lease agreement for 15,100 square feet of Class A office space at CenterPointe I, located at 240 E. Central Parkway in Altamonte Springs.

Kenneth R. Koch, commercial portfolio director at Emerson International, said AmeriCredit Financial Service, LLC, is the new tenant.

Lennar’s Central Florida Division is offering up to six percent commissions to Orlando-area Realtors who sell new homes at three Lennar communities in the Orlando region: Emerson Park in Apopka, Cortland Woods at Providence in Davenport and Wyndham Lakes in south Orlando.

Mark Metheny, president of Lennar’s Central Florida Division, said Realtors will earn 4 percent commission for the first home they sell and 5 percent for any sale thereafter that closes before the end of November.

Winston James Development Company leased a 938-square-foot suite at Aloma Business Center on Aloma Avenue in Winter Park to Mako Shark. Winston Schwartz, president of Winston-James Development Inc. said Mako Shark is a commercial and residential electrical contractor.

Cuhaci & Peterson Architects, based in Orlando’s Baldwin Park, have been given the assignment to work on interior renovations of four southwest Florida J.C. Penney stores on a design-build basis.

Lonnie Peterson, chairman of Cuhaci & Peterson Architects, said the stores are located at Westshore Mall in Tampa, Brandon Town Center in Hillsborough County, DeSoto Mall in Bradenton and the Mall at Port Charlotte.

Ashton Woods Homes is down to its last home at Savannah Park at Heathrow, the town home community located off International Parkway by Heathrow, Michael Roche, vice president of sales and marketing, said.

The home offers four bedrooms, three and one half baths, private courtyard and 1,936 square feet of living space. Roche said the home is fully furnished and priced at $249,990. For more information, visit ashtonwoods.com

Tolaris Realty Group, which sells new homes and resale homes throughout Central Florida, is now accepting applications from Realtors who want to join Tolaris Realty Group’s 100 Percent Commission Program.

Rick Bavec, a 30-year veteran of the Florida housing industry and a principal at Tolaris Realty Group, said Realtors who join the 100 Percent Commission Program at Tolaris Realty Group can retain 100 percent commissions on all sales.

Tolaris Realty Group charges independent Realtors a monthly fee of as low as $30 to join its 100 Percent Commission Program, Bavec explained.

“With our 100 Percent Commission Program, a Realtor can take advantage of the support structure, training and the experienced Broker at Tolaris Realty Group and retain all the commissions they earn on each sale,” Bavec said.