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Asset Management Enhancement
Litigation Support
Investment Maximizing Restructuring
Housing Demand
Retail Repositioning
Market Research and Public Approval
Feasibility and Impact Analysis
Strategic Planning and Economic Development
Asset Management Enhancement
Santa Clara, California
"We wanted to thank you for all your help, excellent advice and very hard work on the recent sale and close of escrow for the former Agnews Developmental Center property in Santa Clara. This sale is the largest sale of surplus state property in the history of the state. The sales price of $192,750,000.00 was only achievable due to the work of the team your firm assembled to help the state with the sale of this very complex surplus state property. This followed the sale of another portion of this property to SUN Microsystems for $51,000,000.00 for their new world headquarters..."
"...We consider ourselves fortunate to have been able to work with you. Your professionalism and dedication to this project were very much appreciated."
J. Frank Davidson, Assistant Chief
Paula P. Gutierres, Asset Manager
State of California
Asset Planning and Enhancement Branch
Asset Management Enhancement
South Elgin, Illinois
"We greatly appreciate your efforts with the TIF study... We plan to use your analysis as the basis for the entire development. Thanks again for your dedication and persistence."
J. David A. Bear
Chairman
Economic Development Council
City of South Elgin, Illinois
Asset Management Enhancement
Deerfield, Illinois
"Managing retail real estate assets is a challenging task, especially in recent years. As the industry consolidated, certain merchants succeeded and other failed."
"Although we felt our lead asset was well positioned and well located, we wanted to be proactive. We wanted to understand the demographics and other trends that might impact our tenanting decisions. Gruen Gruen + Associates were retained to study our market and make recommendations based on a demographic study and customer surveys."
"Their in-depth approach to the research revealed interesting predictable trends that led to a list of realistic and doable recommendations. Their observations and recommendations have already influenced tenant decisions and marketing efforts. We intend to implement a great number of their recommendations and expect these action plans to result in added value to the shopping center."
Joseph E. Valenti, Jr.
Valenti Builders, Inc.
Northfield, Illinois
Litigation Support
Suisun City, California
"I retained you (on behalf of the City) to testify as an expert witness on the issue of whether it would be economically feasible – as of the May 26, 1994 date of valuation – to pursue a commercial project on the residentially zoned land. The case was tried before a jury in Judge Grossfeld's courtroom (Department 57) in Sacramento County earlier this month. You were one of four expert witnesses who testified on behalf of the City. Ultimately, the jury verdict was very favorable for the City."
"Based upon your knowledge, preparation and demeanor on the witness stand, I would gladly recommend you to other attorneys."
David W. Skinner
Meyers, Nave, Riback, Silver & Wilson
San Leandro, California
Investment Maximizing Restructuring
Europe
"What's the quantifiable value of periodic renovations for retail stores? How do contemporary retail facility standards contribute to a firm's competitive standing in the United States marketplace? How should these factors play out for American customers living on U.S. military bases overseas?"
"These are everyday real considerations for the Army & Air Force Exchange Service (AAFES), which generates $6.8 billion in annual sales through 2,900 retail stores and 2,300 food activities worldwide. GG+A helped us address these issues through on-site visits to our stores and restaurants on Army and Air Force installations in California and Europe. Their retail expertise and astute business analysis contributed to the development of an Investment Strategy for AAFES Facilities that was approved by the AAFES Board of Directors. We can now document that renovations incorporating customers' expectations have a positive impact on sales and gross margins, and can and do produce a return on investment equal to, or greater than, any other investment that a retail organization can make."
Chuck Poffenbarger
SVP of Facilities Support
Army & Air Force Exchange Service
Dallas, Texas
Housing Demand
Sun City, Arizona
"Corum Real Estate Group, Inc., engaged the services of GG+A to help us evaluate the market potential for a product type that was new to us, an independent living apartment development in Sun City Grand, an age-restricted community being developed by the Del Webb Company. We were also interested in formulating an appropriate approach to the over-55 housing market, as their needs and desires are quite different from those of a typical apartment tenant."
"Nina Gruen's "urban sociologist" approach to the situation provided us a perspective outside the typical real estate analysis that served to focus our efforts. We are proceeding with a design incorporating Ms. Gruen's input and look forward to bringing a successful development to the market early next year."
V. Michael Komppa
President
Corum Real Estate Group, Inc.
Englewood, Colorado
Retail Repositioning
San Mateo, California
"Gruen Gruen + Associates' research helped us select the re-tenanting and remodeling program we implemented to improve the competitiveness of the Hillsdale Regional Shopping Center. The results were a double-digit increase in sales and the strengthening of our position in the market place."
Frances B. Nelson
President
Bohannon Development Company
San Mateo, California
Market Research and Public Approval
Los Gatos, California
"Just wanted to follow up to let you know that we finally got approval for Old Town renovation and expansion in Los Gatos. To a great extent, the market research and sales evaluations you provided were the key factor in convincing the Town Council that the project was both viable from a market standpoint and would enhance their economic stability. As developers, we are well aware that we come to the podium with some preconceived notions about the objectivity of our views. The work you have done for us both at McCarthy Ranch Marketplace and Old Town has been instrumental in stripping away any suspicions on the public sector's part about the background studies done in order to ensure the success of our projects. It is this type of detailed information that raises the elevation of discussion from opinion and emotion to facts and relevant data that allow for the most productive type of discourse."
Edward D. Storm
Deke Hunter, Jr.
Storm Land Co.
Cupertino, California
Market Research and Public Approval
Antioch, Illinois
"GMX is involved with large-scale shopping center developments and acquisitions throughout the Midwest. We hired Gruen Gruen + Associates to evaluate the impact of one of our proposed 600,000-square-foot regional shopping centers in Chicagoland on the downtown business district serving the same community. We put Gruen under an expedited time frame to put the report together, given the usual project deadlines that we face on these types of projects. Having been in the development business for approximately 20 years, I have worked with numerous consulting groups to put these types of reports and market studies together for our projects. I am pleased to say that Gruen's report contained the most useful and thorough research and was the most comprehensive undertaking for any consulting report that I have ever seen or commissioned, especially considering the expedited time frame under which we put Gruen to complete the report. I would not hesitate to use Gruen on our next project and strongly recommend that Gruen be put at the top of every developer's list."
Andrew Goodman
GMX Real Estate Group, LLC
Northbrook, Illinois
Feasibility and Impact Analysis
Harvard, Illinois
"The study Gruen Gruen + Associates provided for Harvard, 'The Economic and Fiscal Effects of the Closure of the Motorola Harvard Plant'' was the key that unlocked one million dollars of grant money from the State of Illinois. Given the financial situation the State is in, I don't believe Harvard would have received anything in our 'divorce settlement' without the aid of your extensive analysis. Thanks again for the insight you have provided our community."
Mark Stricker
Treasurer
Economic Development Commission
City of Harvard, Illinois
Feasibility and Impact Analysis
Chula Vista, California
"The City Council had the ability to acquire a well-located parcel for a Community Theater. A rival city had just completed a theater and was receiving rave reviews."
"GG+A was asked to evaluate the City's ability to build and operate a theater (1,000/1,500 seats). The recommendation: not popular, don't become involved. The advice was well taken. With GG+A's input, a county Regional Center, including courts, was constructed on the site. This served as an anchor for the southern edge of the City's Downtown Core and has successfully generated offices, eating establishments, etc., just as GG+A said they would... and the City has no financial involvement! The city with the theater? Sad to say, they are continually having to subsidize the operation and have not experienced a similar redevelopment of the surrounding area."
Paul Desrochers
Executive Director
Community Development Commission
City of National City, California
Strategic Planning and Economic Development
Scottsdale, Arizona
"Since the early 1980's, GG+A has provided the City of Scottsdale with analysis and advice on the Downtown Scottsdale market position and strategies for adjustment and enhancement."
"In the retail sector, they have evaluated the historic shopper profile and patterns, retail mix, and competitive offerings. GG+A has offered invaluable advice on how to reposition to assure future success. They have also studied the hotel, office and entertainment sectors and helped determine historic strengths and vulnerabilities as well as insights into future strategies."
"GG+A's work has always been precise and insightful. They have worked as an integral partner with the city's planning team and provided vital assistance in the creation of an award-winning Downtown Plan."
Gary Roe
Redevelopment Administrator
City of Scottsdale, Arizona
Strategic Planning and Economic Development
Kane County, Illinois
"It's always been a pleasure to work with you and try to apply the results and recommendations of your very professional and intellectual reports. I Hope to work with you more in the future."
Phil Bus
Executive Director, Development Department
Kane County, Illinois
Strategic Planning and Economic Development
Corte Madera, California
"GG+A has consistently hit the target as to what was needed when they have provided consulting services for the municipalities where I have worked as Planning Director over the past 20 years. Their research is to the point, and their presentations are understandable to the public and convincing for the decision makers. In these times when the bottom line is becoming increasingly important for government, it has been a comfort to depend on GG+A for reliable input."
David Hale
Director of Environmental Services
Village of Corte Madera, California