Case Studies

ØDe DESIGN & DEVELOPMENT MANAGEMENT

Worthington Town Center 2.0M SF

Overall development management responsibility for this $ 540M mixed use “new urbanism” project from conceptual design and budgeting through construction. The project includes: 750,000 SF of retail, 753 multifamily units above the retail, and 450,000 SF of office. The project is anchored by Wegmans, Target, MUVICO, and L.L.Bean as well as two large office tenants representing over 225,000 SF. Responsibilities included the governmental approvals, attaining economic grants and incentives, Tax Increment Financing, the review of over forty development concepts and numerous reworks of the site plan to meet tenant requirements. In addition, rezoning and land development approvals were obtained after numerous meetings, negotiations with DEP and State Traffic department approvals as well as all utility providers. Oversight of all design and construction bids and awards for 16 varied buildings.

Limerick Springs

All rezoning and land development approvals for this mixed use development anchored by COSTCO. The project includes 400,000 SF of retail with several restaurants, a theater, and 300 units of apartments and is adjacent to a Simon Property Outlet Mall.

Summa Industries

Full cycle development services included the negotiation and application for multi-state economic incentives, site selection and acquisition, and design and construction management. In addition, Crea Group prepared the financial analysis for traditional vs. bond financing and secured the placement of a $7.5M Industrial Revenue Bond which financed 93% of the total capital budget including hard and soft costs, and equipment financing.

Provident Mutual

Project management of 88,000 corporate office headquarters for this insurance leader. Scope included an RFP process and the negotiation of the sale of Provident' existing facility to the developer. Structuring the sale leaseback involved tax planning and economic incentives. Value added was in excess of $800,000.

Waterford Wedgwood

Oversight of the design and construction management of this $15M, 280,000 square foot facility that serves as their US Headquarters. Difficult issues in the land development process included the mitigation of several wetlands, and construction thereon. Assisted in plant layout and materials handling design as well as the purchase of all equipment. With the delicate glass products, a fully integrated floor guide wire system for the high reach equipment was installed. Value savings estimated to be $670,000.

PORTFOLIO CONSULTING

AmerisourceBergen

Prepared consolidation / merger analysis for these two companies. Developed database for 67 facilities and 7 million square foot portfolio that includes all lease abstracts and pertinent critical date notices. Prepared strategic plan, policy and procedures manual, and managed all leased and owned property transactions.

Knight Ridder, Inc.

Strategic consulting for integration and consolidation of 50 newspaper distribution warehouses. Implemented database management system and internal controls and policy for lease administration. Phase One savings are estimated to be $1.8M.

WORKOUTS & PROPERTY REPOSITIONING

Bethlehem Steel

In northern New Jersey, we assisted in managing an environmental cleanup and repositioning this property. CREA was able to remarket the property for four times its appraised value hence creating $7M.

LCOR (Linpro)

Loan workouts for several Pennsylvania properties including: five office buildings, a 150 unit luxury single family development, two flex facilities, and a distribution center. Work included completing governmental approvals and negotiating extensions, new loan terms, or friendly foreclosures.

Parkvale Savings

An older 50,000 SF urban building was recently renovated with our assistance and remarketed as retail and office space for significant added value of $3M. CREA oversight included a significant environmental cleanup and construction management.

TRANSACTION MANAGEMENT

Knight Ridder, Inc.

Multiple location search for 42 distribution facilities in a tri-state area. Strategic planning for consolidation, with database development and lease negotiation, and project and program management.

Ikon Office Solutions, Inc.

Multi-state site search and lease negotiations for 50,000 square foot call center. Both existing and built to suit alternatives were investigated as well as economic incentives.

AmerisourceBergen Corporation

A recent regional site search for a build-to-suit or existing distribution warehouse for this Fortune 100 company is just one of many assignments where our original negotiated deal allowed for strategic expansion at minimal cost due to forward thinking.

HEALTHCARE

Columbia /HCA

This Texas assignment included the overall review of the construction department activities and a review of the planned hospital expansion of over $50M. The hospital was tied to a long-term lease agreement with the original developer. The review revealed many overcharges HCA had incurred over the years. These were negotiated then used as credits toward a lease buyout scenario. In addition, the department review demonstrated that some streamlining, especially in the decision-making "checks and balances" which saved nearly one million dollars annually.

Crittendon Health - Michigan

Feasibility and development cost analysis was performed for this major health provider in the Detroit, Michigan suburbs for a new $16M MOB building and outpatient center of approximately 45,000 square feet plus an expanded emergency room and enhanced medical suites. Numerous ownership structures were analyzed with their varied tax impacts on the partners and the hospital.

Miserecordia Hospital Multiple Projects

Project management activities included multiple projects that were completed for Mercy Health Systems. Such projects included the complete renovation and updating of the emergency room, renovations in the lobby, nursing center, radiology and miscellaneous jobs on many floors of the hospital.

University of Kansas Medical Center

Due diligence and feasibility, site selection, cost analysis, and partnership and financial analysis for this medical office building and outpatient program. Costs were estimated at $ 8M- $10M depending upon the final programming needs. The building was designed to allow for future expansion in a modular fashion.

Mercy Health System Multiple Projects

Multiple projects included master planning and site development, pre-construction and construction monitoring for three medical office buildings totaling $25 M and 150,000 square feet, emergency rooms $3.4M, and multiple hospital renovations of over $40M. Acted as the owner's representative for Mercy' Facilities group. Services included strategic planning, land planning, team selection, contractor bid process and negotiation, monitoring construction. Value engineering savings totaled $3M.

Renal Treatment Systems Multiple Projects

Multi -state development of over 25 dialysis centers. Identified sites, negotiated leases, and managed the design and construction of these centers for Renal's portfolio. We assisted with several special issues with Health Department guidelines and approvals and also managed the team selection, contractor selection and bid process and negotiation, and monitored construction.

COUNTRY CLUBS

Plymouth C.C.

Developed membership survey and design program for $3M renovation that involves pool relocation, renovated ballroom, prefunction room, and new streetscape/ entrance design as well as new locker rooms and terrace area. Monitored all design, bidding, approvals, and construction.

St. Davids Golf Club

This club's program evolved after investigating and assessing several design alternatives to meet budget expectations and operating needs. The $4M program three phase program includes a new ballroom, new locker rooms, a prefunction room, new pro shop, renovated dining and grill rooms, a furniture package, and new stormwater basins. Crea provided overall design and construction management and the communication plan.

Waynesborough C.C.

Supporting the Facilities Design Committee, we were integral in the overall master planning and design of new $10M, 43,000 sf facility that is now recognized as one of the best in its market. With over two years of planning, the project included a new half house, proshop, a 225 seat ballroom and prefunction area, a 3000 sf Pub, both adult and family dining, a cocktail lounge, and many other top quality amenities.

American Society of Internal Medicine