Jun 08, 2000

New real estate consultancy

Data gatherers Matthew Gardner and Jerry Johnson have left separate real estate advisory firms to form their own, called Gardner-Johnson LLC. Gardner worked the past year as a researcher for Builder Marketing Group. Johnson rose to principal in Hobson Johnson & Associates in 11 years with that firm. Gardner-Johnson has a Seattle and a Portland office. It performs "a full range of real estate and economic advisory services," Gardner said. Clients such as Weyerhaeuser, John Buchan, Simpson Housing and Fortune Group came with Gardner.

The Virginia Anderson Internship

Seattle Center director Virginia Anderson’s consistent interest in maintaining affordable housing in Seattle has resulted in her name going on a University of Washington internship program. The non-profit Housing Resources Group contributed $15,000 to fund an internship for a UW student interested in pursuing a career in affordable housing and financing. HRG named it the Virginia Anderson Internship.

The UW’s new Runstad Center for Real Estate Studies will administer the internship and doesn’t necessarily have to send the intern to HRG. Anderson helped start HRG and served on its board, but isn’t on the board now. "Anderson has worked tirelessly in a volunteer role to assist HRG create thousands of units of affordable housing in downtown Seattle neighborhoods," HRG said.

Creating the internship is part of HRG celebrating its 20th anniversary. The Downtown Seattle Association created HRG in 1980 to increase the supply of affordable housing in and around downtown.

Unico Properties

Robynn Rockstad-Rex joined Seattle-based Unico Properties as director of marketing and communications. She came from the Seattle healthcare information company CareWise Inc.

Opus Northwest

Opus Northwest made three moves on its Opus Center@Union Station office project in Seattle. Opus hired John Mills as senior property manager for the project, construction of which is set to finish this summer. The company also hired Mike Hlastala as project manager in charge of tenant build-outs at Union Station. And Opus promoted Brian Fyall to senior project manager-construction for the project.