New York, NY, October 15, 2007 — Jones Lang LaSalle was selected by Blackrock Realty, LLC, a joint venture between Wittek Development, LLC, and Rugby Realty Co., Inc., as exclusive retail agent and retail project manager for its Fairfield Metro Center development in Fairfield, Conn. The 1.1 million-square-foot project includes 70,000 square feet of ground-floor retail space.
The Jones Lang LaSalle team is led by Cubie Dawson, senior vice president, and includes Genevieve Francois, both with the firm’s New York office. Fairfield Metro Center, located at 21 Black Rock Turnpike, will include a new Metro North train station with direct access to the mixed-use complex and as many as 7,000 daily commuters.
“Jones Lang LaSalle has become the real estate services provider of choice for the developers of innovative transportation oriented projects throughout the New York metropolitan region,” said Peter Riguardi, president of Jones Lang LaSalle’s New York region. “We are pleased to work with Blackrock to help create a project that will greatly benefit travelers, residents and workers in the Fairfield area.”
Blackrock Realty breaks ground on Fairfield Metro Center in October, with completion expected in the first quarter of 2010. The complex includes a new Metro North train station directly connected above and below grade to 800,000 square feet of commercial office space in four interconnected, world class, green sustainable buildings. These buildings will be built in accordance with the U.S. Green Building Council LEED guidelines for excellence in energy and environmental design.
“Fairfield Metro Center will have a tremendous impact on the Town of Fairfield,” said Dawson. “Jones Lang LaSalle has considerable expertise with transit-oriented retail developments including Union Station in Washington, D.C., and Grand Central Terminal in New York. We will ensure the project offers the right blend of restaurants and convenience-oriented retail to the people traveling the Metro North line to the corporations and their employees, as well as the hotel guests that will occupy the complex.”
Fairfield Metro Center will also offer 70,000 square feet of retail, including a fitness center and spa, casual and fine dining, as well as stores carefully selected to provide convenience to commuters and employees working at the office park. A 182-room full service Hilton hotel completes this amazing new development.
The retail tenant mix will feature convenience and specialty retailers that will cater to the needs of office tenants, commuters and area residents. The plan is to provide a variety of restaurants and healthy-to-go options. The property will provide a new public gathering space where residents from the area can meet, shop and dine in a leisurely atmosphere as well as an 11-acre nature preserve with walking and jogging trails. The synergy to be created at this 35-acre development will produce a landmark property with direct express connection to Manhattan and New Haven via its new Metro North station which has been named “Fairfield Metro” by the Connecticut DOT.
The development is fully entitled and approved for construction.