June 20, 2007:
One Charter Place Completed By Amera Urban Developers -
Initial Phase of Downtown Coral Springs Welcomes First Tenants

One Charter Place, a $25 million Class A office center by Amera Urban Developers, is now open, marking the completion of the first phase of the Downtown Coral Springs project.

The dramatic, curving 4-story office, financial and retail center is located on a 3.9-acre site at University Drive and Sample Road. State Farm, the signature tenant, occupies 50,500 square feet, or approximately 50 percent of the building. Wachovia, Merrill Lynch, First Southern Bank, and a LasikPlus Vision Center are completing their build-outs and plan to open in the coming weeks.

"Cities must continually reinvent themselves to remain attractive, vibrant, and convenient to draw businesses and serve the interests of the people who live and work there," said George Rahael, CEO of Amera Urban Developers, the city’s master developer for the 136-acre Downtown Coral Springs project. "One Charter Place provides a glimpse into the future of the overall Downtown transformation. Coral Springs’ progressive officials and civic leaders deserve great credit for creating a shared vision that continues to balance business opportunity and quality of life.�

The One Charter Place development team includes Charlie Ladd, president of Barron Commercial Real Estate, Inc., Coral Springs, development manager of the project; and Solomon Cordwell Buenz & Associates Inc. of Chicago is the architectural firm. The general contractor is J. Raymond & Associates and the project is being financed by Wachovia Bank.

"From the beginning, the idea of creating a downtown for Coral Springs was a challenge, and only became a reality because of the vision and perseverance of a few dreamers like George Rahael who has made believers of us all," said John Ruffin, Jr., chairman of the Coral Springs CRA board. "One Charter place is a community asset that will mean jobs, economic benefit, and most of all a sense of place for the residents of Coral Springs.

"The City staff led by Erdal Donmez, Assistant City Manager, and the CRA board have been very diligent and patient throughout this phase. Their efforts along with Broward County officials and all of the other partners have made this a model for effective planning."

Coral Springs Mayor Scott Brook said: "With One Charter Place, an incredible foundation has been established, part of a great future for the City and for downtown." The multi-phase, public/private Downtown Coral Springs project will transform all four quadrants of the University Drive/Sample Road intersection into a pedestrian-friendly, mixed-use hub over the next decade. The project calls for broad walkways through a central multi-level plaza that will link components of the three million-square-foot project in a walkable and inviting mixed-use environment, explained Ladd.

The project, incorporating Amera’s successful development philosophy, will create a day-to-night destination that responds to market needs with a dynamic tenant roster. Coral Springs Downtown will be a mix of redeveloped properties and new construction offering office, retail, residential and institutional facilities, as well as a new government center.

Amera’s Coral Springs projects include The Walk on University and Design Row. The Amera group of companies is headquartered at The Walk, 2900 University Drive, Coral Springs. For leasing information, contact Amera Barron Leasing, Inc. at 954-340-6000.