Dec 30, 2004

Marcus & Millichap

The office of investment brokerage Marcus & Millichap has moved from Key Center in Bellevue to U.S. Bank Centre in Seattle, where it plans to grow and diversify by transacting office sales and increasing its retail and multifamily work. This year, "it looks like we're going to do $285 million in sales... with 80 percent of that local," says Regional Manager Greg Wendelken. The plan for the office sector is to work primarily with private investors pursuing deals in the $500,000 to $10-million range, said, adding he wants to increase the number of brokers and agents from 30 up to 40.

Gibraltar LLC

Seattle-based Gibraltar LLC's acquired three buildings in the Tri-Cities this year on behalf of its investors. Gibraltar already owned one building in the Tri-Cities and is opening its first franchise there. The total acquisition cost of the Tri-Cities portfolio was $10.3 million. Gibraltor operates 60,000 square feet of retail and office in the Tri-Cities, and it has under contract 2 acres where it plans to build a 25,000 square-foot retail center. Gibraltar's total ownership portfolio exceeds $70 million, and its management portfolio exceeds $180 million.

John L. Scott

The following agents have joined John L. Scott: Jennifer Bolen, Laurelhurst office; Jen Hynes and Julie Lloyd, Kirkland; Lynn McKinney, Edmonds; and Spencer Syverson, Kent.

State of Downtown 2005 breakfast

Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels will present his strategy for the city center at the State of Downtown 2005 breakfast at 7 a.m. Jan. 25 at the Sheraton, 1400 Sixth Ave. Panelists at the Downtown Seattle Association meeting are Rob Aigner of Colliers, Grace Crunican of the city Department of Transportation, DSA President Kate Joncas, Greg Smith of Gregory Broderick Smith Real Estate and Diane Sugimura of the city Department of Planning and Development. It's $30 for DSA members and $40 for others. To register, see www.downtownseattle.com or call (206) 623-0340

Mortgage Bankers Association

Mixed-use developer Don Milliken will speak about the greater Seattle condominium market at the 5 p.m. Jan. 25 meeting of the Seattle Mortgage Bankers Association dinner at Broadmoor Golf Club, 2340 Broadmoor Drive E., Seattle. Tickets are $35 for members and $45 for nonmembers. Register at https://seattlemortgage.securesites.com/smba/register.html or send payment to Deanna Powell, Stewart Title, 40 Lake Bellevue Drive, Suite 200, Bellevue, WA 98005. For more information, write dpowell@stewart.com or call (206) 770-8700.

Law Seminars International

"Telecommunications Issues in Real Estate" is the topic of a Feb 7-8 continuing education class at the Renaissance Seattle Hotel. For registration and additional information, call Law Seminars International at (206) 567-4490 or see www.lawseminars.com.

Dec 23, 2004

Colliers International Hotels

Spokane-based WestCoast Hospitality Corp., has chosen Seattle-based Colliers International Hotels as its broker for the disposition of 11 properties, including the historic Ridpath in Spokane. Last month, WestCoast announced plans to sell the hotels, most of which are in markets where the publicly traded company owns and operates more than one hotel. The company plans to use the proceeds to enhance 31 hotels. Colliers International Hotels Senior Vice President Chris Burdett said a number of buyers have inquired about the properties. He expects to have some properties under contract shortly with all 11 sold in six months.

CoStar Group Inc.

CoStar has signed a multi-market renewal agreement to provide commercial real estate information services to Cushman & Wakefield for at least four years. Cushman & Wakefield has been a CoStar customer since 1993.

Windermere

Sales associate Shannon Brady Haas has joined Windermere's Magnolia office in Seattle; she previously was a sales associate with Madison House Ltd. Sotheby's International Realty in Seattle. Brad Hinckley has joined the Capitol Hill office in Seattle. Also, Windermere Foundation is working with Salvation Army to pay a year's rent for 14 Puget Sound-area families. The Home for the Holidays program started last year; eight families' rents were covered.

Instructor Development Workshop

Carla Cross Seminars presents its Instructor Development Workshop Jan. 6-7 in Renton. The class, accredited by the state for 15 clock hours, is for people who want to become real estate instructors. Cost is $199. Register at http://www.carlacross.com or call (425) 392-6914.

CREW

Alley24, Vulcan Inc's mixed-use project in the South Lake Union neighborhood, is the topic at CREW's noon Jan. 13 lunch at the Washington Athletic Club, 1325 Sixth Ave., Seattle. Reservations are $35 for members and $40 for others; they can be made at http://www.crewseattle.org or by calling Commercial Real Estate Women at (206) 417-5580.