**Bank Opens Commercial Lending Unit, Brings 15 Jobs to Downtown Fort Lauderdale
Stiles Realty announces a 7-year lease to Woodforest National Bank® for a new commercial lending office at 200 East Las Olas Blvd. in the heart of downtown Fort Lauderdale.
This will be the Texas-based financial institution’s first office in South Florida and brings 15 employees to Fort Lauderdale. Stiles Realty Senior Vice President Norm Adams and Associate Danielle Story represented the landlord in the transaction while Glenn Gregory of Transwestern represented the tenant.
“We are excited about the opportunity to serve Florida’s entrepreneurial community,” said Willy Gomez, Florida Regional President.
The move provides the bank with direct Las Olas exposure, covered parking, extensive building amenities and proximity to area nightlife, culture and entertainment. While the new office build-out is slated to complete in July, Woodforest is operating a temporary office in the building.
“This deal further showcases the strength of the Las Olas financial district,” commented Adams. “Demand for downtown space is growing due to its proximity to national financial services tenants as well as its proximity to retail, entertainment and restaurants on the main thoroughfare. There is a trend toward maximizing office space with smarter designs to move to an urban downtown setting.”
Woodforest is a Texas-based privately-owned institution with over 740 branch locations throughout Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Mississippi, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Texas, Virginia, and West Virginia.
200 East Las Olas is a Class A office tower featuring panoramic views of downtown, the ocean and the New River. There is a full-service bank and restaurant on-site, and the building is Energy Star rated with LEED Certification pending and 24/7 manned security. While some upgrades have already been made, including the installation of extensive exterior lighting from the ground up, ownership has proposed an extensive renovation plan, including lobby upgrades. The tower is within walking distance of restaurants, entertainment, retail and the courthouse.
In addition, more than 2,200 new residential units are in development within a one-mile radius and the tower is planned to be a stop on the city’s new Wave trolley service. Easily accessible from I-595, I-95 and US-1, 201 East Las Olas is within a ten-minute drive of Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood International Airport and Port Everglades.
About Stiles
Stiles is a full-service commercial real estate firm with a clear mission: Invest. Build. Manage. Stiles services include development, construction, tenant improvement, realty, property management, architecture, acquisitions and financing. Headquartered in Fort Lauderdale, Stiles maintains regional offices in Miami, Fort Myers, Tampa and Orlando, Florida, and has a development office in Charlotte, North Carolina. Stiles is responsible for more than 43 million square feet of office, industrial, retail and mixed-use residential projects throughout the southeastern United States. For more information, please visit http://stiles.com or call 954-627-9300.