Sauer Center’s first phase fills out

2.8R sauer 1

The next phase will rise just below the green-roofed Putney Building, seen center right. (Courtesy of Sauer Properties)

All of the office space in The Sauer Center’s first phase has now been spoken for, with a firm that’s closely familiar with the project snapping up its last bit.

L.F. Jennings has signed a lease to move its local headquarters to The Sauer Center, the Whole Foods-anchored development from Sauer Properties across Broad Street from the Fan.

The general contracting firm is taking 4,300 square feet of office space at 2000 W. Marshall St., joining tenants like IT firm SingleStone and fellow general contractor Barton Malow. Sauer Properties’ own office is also based out of the trapezoidal building near the intersection of West Marshall Street and Hermitage Road.

Though its company headquarters are in Northern Virginia, L.F. Jennings’ local home base has been in the Glen Forest Office Park in the West End for over a decade.

The company already knows The Sauer Center well, as it’s been the project’s general contractor since it kicked off in 2017. Frank Martino, L.F. Jennings’ Central Virginia director, said they’re excited to make Sauer Properties a neighbor and landlord, in addition to a client.

sauer1

L.F. Jennings will set up in 2000 W. Marshall St.

“We’ve been there so long, we didn’t want to go,” said Martino, laughing. “Sauer’s been a great client. There’s no one we’d rather be sending rent checks to each month than a client.”

Planting its local office in The Sauer Center also puts L.F. Jennings closer to some of the bigger projects it’s currently working on downtown. That includes Douglas Development’s 189-unit apartment conversion at 629 E. Main St., as well as the Mutual Building’s conversion into 170 units at 909 E. Main St., a project from Landmark Property Services and The Wilton Cos.

Martino said he’s hoping to have L.F. Jennings’ local staff of about 11 — a number he expects to grow to at least 14 in the near future — moved into The Sauer Center by next spring. Commonwealth Commercial’s Tucker Dowdy and Russell Wyatt represented Sauer Properties in the deal. Thalhimer’s Brian Berkey represented L.F. Jennings.

Last week Sauer Properties announced on its LinkedIn page that the first phase of the project has been completely leased. CarMax and nonprofit Great Minds are also among the tenants that recently moved into new offices in the first phase.

While Sauer Properties hasn’t confirmed who’s leased a final office suite in a building adjacent to Whole Foods’ at 2022 W. Broad St., city documents show that it’ll be local tech firm Virginia Interactive.

Plans filed in recent weeks list the web development firm and government contractor as the client for 2022 W. Broad St., the final office space in The Sauer Center’s first phase. Virginia Interactive was previously housed in the Arts District at 119 W. Broad St., which is currently available for lease.

Multiple calls and emails sent to Virginia Interactive leadership went unreturned. Sauer Properties President Ashley Peace wasn’t available for comment by press time.

With leasing on the first phase wrapped up, site work has begun on its second phase: a four-story office building that will rise adjacent to the parking deck behind the CarMax-anchored Putney Building.

2.8R sauer 1

The next phase will rise just below the green-roofed Putney Building, seen center right. (Courtesy of Sauer Properties)

All of the office space in The Sauer Center’s first phase has now been spoken for, with a firm that’s closely familiar with the project snapping up its last bit.

L.F. Jennings has signed a lease to move its local headquarters to The Sauer Center, the Whole Foods-anchored development from Sauer Properties across Broad Street from the Fan.

The general contracting firm is taking 4,300 square feet of office space at 2000 W. Marshall St., joining tenants like IT firm SingleStone and fellow general contractor Barton Malow. Sauer Properties’ own office is also based out of the trapezoidal building near the intersection of West Marshall Street and Hermitage Road.

Though its company headquarters are in Northern Virginia, L.F. Jennings’ local home base has been in the Glen Forest Office Park in the West End for over a decade.

The company already knows The Sauer Center well, as it’s been the project’s general contractor since it kicked off in 2017. Frank Martino, L.F. Jennings’ Central Virginia director, said they’re excited to make Sauer Properties a neighbor and landlord, in addition to a client.

sauer1

L.F. Jennings will set up in 2000 W. Marshall St.

“We’ve been there so long, we didn’t want to go,” said Martino, laughing. “Sauer’s been a great client. There’s no one we’d rather be sending rent checks to each month than a client.”

Planting its local office in The Sauer Center also puts L.F. Jennings closer to some of the bigger projects it’s currently working on downtown. That includes Douglas Development’s 189-unit apartment conversion at 629 E. Main St., as well as the Mutual Building’s conversion into 170 units at 909 E. Main St., a project from Landmark Property Services and The Wilton Cos.

Martino said he’s hoping to have L.F. Jennings’ local staff of about 11 — a number he expects to grow to at least 14 in the near future — moved into The Sauer Center by next spring. Commonwealth Commercial’s Tucker Dowdy and Russell Wyatt represented Sauer Properties in the deal. Thalhimer’s Brian Berkey represented L.F. Jennings.

Last week Sauer Properties announced on its LinkedIn page that the first phase of the project has been completely leased. CarMax and nonprofit Great Minds are also among the tenants that recently moved into new offices in the first phase.

While Sauer Properties hasn’t confirmed who’s leased a final office suite in a building adjacent to Whole Foods’ at 2022 W. Broad St., city documents show that it’ll be local tech firm Virginia Interactive.

Plans filed in recent weeks list the web development firm and government contractor as the client for 2022 W. Broad St., the final office space in The Sauer Center’s first phase. Virginia Interactive was previously housed in the Arts District at 119 W. Broad St., which is currently available for lease.

Multiple calls and emails sent to Virginia Interactive leadership went unreturned. Sauer Properties President Ashley Peace wasn’t available for comment by press time.

With leasing on the first phase wrapped up, site work has begun on its second phase: a four-story office building that will rise adjacent to the parking deck behind the CarMax-anchored Putney Building.

This story is for our paid subscribers only. Please become one of the thousands of BizSense Pro readers today!

Your subscription has expired. Renew now by choosing a subscription below!

For more informaiton, head over to your profile.

Profile


SUBSCRIBE NOW

 — 

 — 

 — 

TERMS OF SERVICE:

ALL MEMBERSHIPS RENEW AUTOMATICALLY. YOU WILL BE CHARGED FOR A 1 YEAR MEMBERSHIP RENEWAL AT THE RATE IN EFFECT AT THAT TIME UNLESS YOU CANCEL YOUR MEMBERSHIP BY LOGGING IN OR BY CONTACTING [email protected].

ALL CHARGES FOR MONTHLY OR ANNUAL MEMBERSHIPS ARE NONREFUNDABLE.

EACH MEMBERSHIP WILL ONLY FUNCTION ON UP TO 3 MACHINES. ACCOUNTS ABUSING THAT LIMIT WILL BE DISCONTINUED.

FOR ASSISTANCE WITH YOUR MEMBERSHIP PLEASE EMAIL [email protected]




Return to Homepage

POSTED IN Commercial Real Estate

Editor's Picks

Subscribe
Notify of
guest

5 Comments
oldest
newest most voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Bruce Milam
Bruce Milam
2 years ago

Its quite the achievement to fully lease the property during these times especially after the events on Broad Street last summer. Congrats go out to the Sauer Company and Commonwealth Commercial.

Ed Christina
Ed Christina
2 years ago
Reply to  Bruce Milam

What events were those Bruce?

Justin W Ranson
Justin W Ranson
2 years ago
Reply to  Ed Christina

(In my Best Hank Hill voice): “You know, the graffiti and what not. “

Michael Dodson
Michael Dodson
2 years ago

Amazing work; I hope when they get to Phase III or IV that involves the Sauer factory moving someone at the City Econ Development will work with the firm to keep the location in the City. Southside near PM/Commerce Road has plenty of sites available.

John Lindner
John Lindner
2 years ago

The Sauers projects are always classy. I’m hoping this success accelerates the redevelopment of more of their portfolio. I can’t wait to see the old Sears building take on a new life. (hint, hint).