Photo credit: Gary Gellman
Sold-Out Event Celebrates Individuals, Firms and Deals of the Year
SOMERSET, N.J., Oct. 14, 2021 – The Garden State’s commercial real estate community recognized the achievements of leading professionals and organizations and the state’s most impactful transactions of 2020 as NAIOP New Jersey hosted its 34th Annual Commercial Real Estate Awards Gala. The sold-out black-tie event was held at The Palace at Somerset Park on October 7.
In his opening remarks, NAIOP NJ President Constantino T. “Gus” Milano, president and COO of Hartz Mountain Industries, said, “New Jersey is one of the best commercial real estate markets in the nation thanks to those who develop and execute transactions. Tonight’s honorees truly represent the best of real estate and economic development. We are inspired by their commitment to excellence in transforming New Jersey communities, and all of them will have an enduring positive impact on our state, our industry and our association.”
The commercial real estate development association announced earlier this year that it was renaming its prestigious annual Lifetime Achievement Award in honor of the late industry icon, Charles Klatskin. The inaugural Charles Klatskin Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to his son, Alex Klatskin, general partner of Forsgate Industrial Partners. The Teterboro-based private real estate development and investment firm has built and owns over 10 million square feet of industrial properties in New Jersey.
“On behalf of the Klatskin family and Forsgate Industrial Partners, thank you for naming the Lifetime Achievement Award for my father. I know he would be honored, and at the same time he would be puzzled why you chose to give it to me,” said Klatskin, who has served NAIOP NJ as a committee chair, trustee and chapter president, and was the 2011 National Chairman of NAIOP Corporate.
Speaking about how lucky he is for the support, talent and contributions of his family, team and business partners, Klatskin noted, “And I am lucky to have found NAIOP. It has given me the opportunity to be subject to peer review, which is important for any family business member.”
Sudler Companies’ chairman and CEO Peter D. Sudler and Gensler accepted the Impact Awards in recognition of their influence on the industrial and office development communities. Joshua Burd, editor of Real Estate NJ, was honored with the Industry Service Award for his considerable contributions in support of the commercial and industrial real estate industry’s goals.
The Caren S. Franzini Public Partner Award, which recognizes champions of economic development that inspires and transforms communities, was presented to Assemblywoman Eliana Pintor Marin.
Deal of the Year Awards
Office and Industrial Deal of the Year winners were selected based on impact on the community and marketplace; degree of complexity and/or uniqueness; innovative strategies; and creative problem solving.
Office Award: Eisai Inc. HQ Lease at Prism’s ON3 (Nutley). Eisai Inc.’s lease of 200 Metro Boulevard at Prism Capital Partners’ ON3 marked New Jersey’s largest 2020 office lease and brought the multi-use campus’s 1.45 million square feet of existing product to 100% occupancy. Involved in the deal: Prism Capital Partners; Eisai Inc.; Savills; and Cushman & Wakefield.
Industrial Award: FreezPak Logistics Center (Elizabeth and Newark). Owned by a partnership between Elberon Development Group and The Fidelco Group, the complex redevelopment project is a 75-foot-high freezer warehouse located in two urban municipalities. Involved in the deal: Elberon Development Group; The Fidelco Group; FreezPak; JLL; Langan Engineering and Environmental Services; Ware Malcomb; Chiesa Shahinian & Giantomasi PC; Orloff, Lowenbach, Stifelman & Siegel, P.A.; and Preferred Industrial Properties.
A special Judges’ Transformation Award went to Lincoln Logistics Bayonne for the 886,256-square-foot lease from UPS for a regional hub and package distribution center at the new 152.9-acre industrial park. Lincoln Equities Group and Cushman & Wakefield were involved in the deal.
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Photo Caption: Standing: Michael McGuinness (NAIOP NJ), Marc Berson (Fidelco Realty Group), Dave Gibbons (Elberon Development Group), Meryl Gonchar (Sills Cummis & Gross PC), Robert Kossar (JLL), Mark Shearer (Rockefeller Group), Eugene Diaz (Prism Capital Partners), Gus Milano (Hartz Mountain Industries), Reid Brockmeier and Brenda Nyce-Taylor (Gensler). Front row: Anne Evans Estabrook (Elberon Development Group), Joshua Burd (Real Estate NJ), Peter D. Sudler (Sudler Companies), Assemblywoman Eliana Pintor Marin, Joel Bergstein (Lincoln Equities Group), and Alex Klatskin (Forsgate Industrial Partners).
Photo Credit: Gary Gellman, Gellman Images
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