BOCA RATON, Fla. — January 6, 2015 — Crocker Partners, a fully integrated real estate company with
an 8 million-square-foot portfolio valued at nearly $2 billion, and Cornerstone Real Estate Advisers LLC, acting on behalf of a Cornerstone-managed fund, today announced the acquisition of the mixed-use Boca Center, one of Boca Raton’s most prominent properties.
The portfolio, which includes three Class A office buildings and a high-end retail center totaling 476,000 square feet, is located in the heart of Boca Raton, just east of the Town Center Mall. Although not part of the transaction, Boca Center also includes a 256-room Marriott, the only full-service, non-resort hotel in the Boca Raton market.
Boca Center, purchased from TIAA-CREF, was originally developed by Tom Crocker in the mid-1980s. At that time, it garnered a national reputation as a prototype for successful suburban mixed-use development and even today is an Urban Land Institute (ULI) Development Case Study. Crocker Partners will manage the portfolio for the new ownership. It is the second high-profile South Florida acquisition by the companies, which previously partnered on West Palm Beach’s Esperanté, a 20-story, 256,151-square-foot office tower.
Boca Center’s 360,000-square-foot office component is currently 91% leased to a marquee rent roll that includes FINRA, UBS, and Sun Capital. The 116,000-square-foot retail component is 98% leased, with popular tenants including Rocco’s Tacos, Morton’s, Joseph’s Classic Market, and Total Wine.
“Boca Raton’s office and retail markets have matured, and we believe there is significant upside potential given Boca Center’s draw, mix of uses and location at the heart of suburban Boca Raton,” said Tom Crocker, Managing Partner of Crocker Partners. “We intend to realize Boca Center’s full potential, with significant investment to reposition and reimage the property.”
“We are pleased to have established a presence in Boca Raton, and to continue expanding our relationship with Crocker Partners whose knowledge of both this portfolio and the market will serve our investors well,” said Michael Zammitti, Managing Director of the Eastern Region Equity Office for Cornerstone.
The Boca Center acquisition brings Crocker Partners’ holdings to more than 8 million square feet in the Southeast U.S. and Texas, and more than 1 million square feet in Boca Raton alone. The company recently acquired One Boca Place, a 277,390-square-foot office building, as well as a two-building, 330,438-square-foot Class A office portfolio in the city. It also owns and operates trophy assets around the state, including Miami Center, and Two Harbor Place in Tampa.
About Crocker Partners
Headquartered in Boca Raton, FL, with regional offices in Atlanta, Miami, and Jacksonville, Crocker Partners is known as a leading owner and developer of high profile properties in key markets, with a highly disciplined approach to investing. In all, Crocker Partners principals have owned, managed and developed more than 32 million square feet of Class A mixed-use, office or residential projects valued at approximately $4.0 billion in major markets in the Southeast and Texas. For information contact Angelo Bianco, 561-447-1810, email investor_relations@crockerpartners.com and visit www.crockerpartners.com.
About Cornerstone Real Estate Advisers LLC
Cornerstone Real Estate Advisers LLC, with subsidiary and affiliate offices in the U.S., UK, Europe, and Asia, is one of the largest global real estate investment managers. It provides core and valu
e-added investment and advisory services, including a comprehensive suite of private and public real estate debt, equity and securities expertise and services, to institutional and other qualified investors around the globe. Cornerstone is a member of the MassMutual Financial Group. Visit www.cornerstoneadvisers.com.
