PHOENIX AZ – Lee & Associates is pleased to announce the promotion of Conner Lee to Associate on October 1, 2015.

Conner started his career in commercial brokerage in the Lee research department in 2011. In 2013, he moved on to a runner position working for Matt Fredrick and Chris McClurg. After 2 years, Conner was nominated for an Associate position in the Industrial division.

“We’re very excited that Conner is taking the next step in our business. He is a very motivated and goal-oriented young man and a great asset to our firm,” said Fred Darche, Managing Principal. Conner is an active member of NAIOP and currently specializes in the leasing and sales of industrial and fl ex properties throughout the Phoenix Metropolitan area. He is fluent in Spanish and is a graduate of the University of Arizona with a degree in Political Science and Spanish.

Lee can be reached at 602.474.9516 or [email protected].

Mesa – The owner and founder of DriveTime Automotive Group, Inc in Phoenix has acquired an office-industrial project in Mesa that will house hundreds of new employees being hired by the fast growing national used car business. Verde Investments Inc. in Phoenix (E.C. “Ernie” Garcia, principal) paid $8.8 million ($82.07 PSF) to buy the 15.97-acre Superstition Commerce Park, which is located west of the northwest corner of US 60 and Sossaman Road.

The 107,231-square-foot complex was vacant at time of sale and comprises a 49,438-square-foot back-office building located at 7457 E. Hampton Avenue and a 57,793-square-foot flex/industrial structure at 7465 E. Hampton Avenue. The acquisition included a 5.49-acre, fully improved parcel targeted for future expansion.

The seller was Delta SCP LLC of Chandler (Michael Deutsch, principal). The seller was represented by Andy Markham, Mike Haenel and Will Strong of Cassidy Turley in Phoenix. Fred Darche and Chris McClurg of Lee & Associates in Phoenix represented the buyer.

DriveTime is expanding from a 125,000-square-foot facility that the company owns just across the street at 7300 E. Hampton Avenue. DriveTime has about 600 workers in that project. Some of those employees will remain in place and some will be moved to the new buildings. The used car sales company has five dealerships in the Valley and 118 sales locations in 24 states across the country.

DriveTime, which was known as Ugly Duckling before Garcia changed the business model in 2002, has been a huge success as it expands across the U.S. The company sells and finances automobiles and needs the additional space in Mesa for its customer service operations. The flex/industrial structure acquired at Superstition Commerce Park is being converted for back-office use. The two buildings will be used to accommodate projected growth of 100 employees that are expected to be hired at DriveTime each year for the foreseeable future.

DriveTime intends to occupy the new space by second quarter 2015.

To learn more Garcia can be reached at 602.778-5000. Talk to the Cassidy Turley agents at 602.954-9000. The Lee & Associates agents are at 602.956-7777.

SCOTTSDALE, AZ – Scottsdale Airpark’s largest commercial land parcel on the runway, at 9.54 acres, sells to a local investment company for $8,325,000 ($20.03 PSF).

Mark Linsalata, Bill Blake and Fred Darche, principals with Lee & Associates represented the seller, Phoenix Dragon FEI, LLC of Scottsdale. Linsalata represented the buyer, Boeing V, LLC, a private investment entity in Phoenix.

The 415,562 SF parcel was the largest remaining commercial parcel with runway access for sale in the Airpark. This highly sought after parcel on the south side of the airport’s runway, holds strong investment potential for future aviation and various commercial uses.

Scottsdale Airpark is one of the state’s largest employment core’s with close to 50,000 jobs within its boundaries. The area is strategically located in North Scottsdale and is surrounded by worldclass shopping, entertainment, recreational and hospitality venues.

The Airpark is surrounded by easy access to top transportation corridors such as the Loop 101, Scottsdale and Hayden roads and Frank Lloyd Wright Blvd.

Linsalata, Blake and Darche should be reached at (602) 956-7777 for more information.