Small users find options at high-tech parks - Suburban Markets

Leasing remained steady throughout the year at business parks catering to small users. AS the economic climate begins to improve, more and more home-based companies are making the move to commercial offices, and growing firms are seeking flexible space to meet their changing needs. For this segment, high-tech parks have become a very popular choice for professionals, contractors and distributors as well as the traditional high-tech trades.

Today's user can find facilities with affordable and versatile small units. For example, our parks offer space from 2,500 square-feet. Units feature separate entrances, individual HVAC metering, on-site parking, large drive-in loading docks and private restrooms.

At the same time, many owners and managers are concentrating on the appearance of their properties, focusing more attention on grounds maintenance and incorporating gardens and seating areas. By providing a corporate-quality image, we have found that our high-tech parks satisfy a wide-range of user needs, from executive offices and showrooms to warehouse space, laboratories, production facilities and distribution centers.

Beyond offering new options, high-tech complexes that cater generate growth opportunities for companies. We have always encouraged our tenants to interact and form new business relationships with their neighbors, and this has been a key to establishing a strong camaraderie with and among tenants at our properties. Recently, we have seen more and more companies developing new and reciprocal business within our complexes.

Devtech Industries Inc., a tenant at our 10-acre Canfield Business Park in Randolph, is a prime example. The three-year-old company specializes in job shop machining for a variety of industries, with projects ranging from automotive parts manufacturing to medical applications. Devtech has started working with several clients at Canfield, including DPC Cirrus and Zone Defense. In addition, the firm utilizes the services of two Canfield tenants: it buys all of its janitorial supplies from Classon Industries and uses Crofutt & Smith Moving and Storage Inc. for large shipping jobs.

A similar scenario has occurred at Roxbury Business Campus, a 58,000 square-foot high-tech business complex in Roxbury. Hills Graphics, a commercial printing company based at the park, prints invoices, flyers, stationary and other products for several tenants including Morris County Video, Almar, Play Arena and Lakeland Refrigeration. At the same time, the company uses other park tenants for services including color separations.

Tenant relationships can actually generate leasing activity at a park. For example, a portion of Roxbury Business Campus houses organizations that cater to children. Paddi Cakes Early Learning Center, an accredited daycare center and pre-school, cares for children ages six weeks to five years. The company utilizes the services of other companies at Roxbury to enhance its program. Paddi Cakes brings children to the neighboring Play Arena, an indoor kid's gym. This fall, Paddi Cakes began taking children to Heart Beat Dance which is also located within Roxbury. The result is an interactive, family-oriented atmosphere in this part of the complex.

Ultimately, it is the quality of a product or service that makes a small company succeed. But being in the right place at the right time is also a plus. By doing business "right next door" our tenants increasing sales, and saving time and money, while creating an amiable, community atmosphere at their workplace.

COPYRIGHT 1993 Hagedorn Publication
COPYRIGHT 2004 Gale Group