Alterra Celebrates 20 Years
A Word from our President - Brad Kitchen
As I think back on starting Alterra I was working out of my loft condo in the Brewery District with the goal of going the extra mile to help my clients. It is hard to believe that 20 years has already flown by. It is funny though how things repeat themselves, because when I started this company all those years ago, I was working out of my home in my pj’s, and here we are in 2020 and I am once again working from home in my pj’s, but this time not by my own choice.
When I started Alterra my goals were simple - help my clients locate and negotiate great deals for their facilities, help investors find properties that are well structured to maximize their returns, and build Alterra’s portfolio of properties. 20 years later I am very proud of the Alterra team, which feels more like family than coworkers, who, just like myself, genuinely cares about our properties, tenants, clients, and investors.
Since opening, we have completed nearly $1 billion in lease and sale transactions and manage and lease over 2 million square feet of office, warehouse, and retail space. The Alterra portfolio of properties has also grown significantly to include warehouses, shopping centers and office buildings all over Central Ohio including Worthington, Dublin, Polaris, and Easton, as well as a few outside of Ohio.
20 years ago, the slogan “We’re On It” was born out of feedback from our clients. We had so many of those we have served tell us that they were always confident that they could count on us to jump on anything they asked of us and were always confident that we would take care of them. In 2020, and beyond, we will continue to work hard every day to live up to those expectations for our clients.
How did I select the name Alterra?
I remember building a list of 500 possible company names, and trying to narrow them down. The finalists were:
- ACME – from my love of the Road Runner cartoons
- Labyrinth – Seemed a little too confusing
- Alterra – Terra means land in Italian (one of my favorite countries) and “Alt” means an alternative (to our competition).
Alterra, with its real estate connotation, and the fact that it got us to the front of the alphabet, was the winner.
Looking forward...
People are resilient, and so is commercial real estate. I feel certain that as we take the necessary steps to get back to “normal”, there are many of us that will want to get back to our offices. Certainly, there are many companies that have reduced their office space and sent people to work from home, but as the vaccine becomes readily available to the masses, many of these companies will realize that employees enjoy the office environment and would like to come back to that setting. There are some employees that enjoy the separation of work and home to keep from working too much and becoming burnt out, and others that thrive when they are able to easily collaborate and engage with their co-workers and peers. I am confident that most companies will get back to their offices in some form or another, and office space and commercial real estate will continue to be a great investment.
Alterra Reflects On What They Were Doing 20 Years Ago
"When I started Alterra I was living in my loft condo above Hagen’s and Howl at the Moon in the Brewery District, worked many long hours out of my condo, and was fortunate enough to be able to golf 3 times per week at New Albany Country Club. I was also active in several charities and the Columbus Museum of Art Young Professionals. Now, I still live in the historic part of downtown Columbus, I still work many long hours, and I still work at Alterra…. Wow, 20 years and not much has changed. I did stop playing golf and picked up racing cars instead, and I spend some time in Naples, Florida. I am still involved with the Columbus Museum of Art (unfortunately not the Young Professionals anymore) and am involved in other charities including Columbus Humane." Brad Kitchen - President/Owner
"20 years ago at this same time of year, I had a two year old son and had just had my second son. It was an exciting, exhausting, and hectic time! Twenty years have flown by and I now have two wonderful sons doing well in college, and I can honestly say how truly blessed I have been to have worked most of those 20 years with Brad Kitchen and the entire Alterra crew – they are truly my second family." Tricia Reece - Vice President
"20 years ago, I was an agent at my father's commercial brokerage firm, Property One, Inc. We had just participated in a purchase of an 8-story, dilapidated, former department store downtown on N. High Street with plans to renovate to modern office. I was the representing agent for the property and, at the formal ribbon cutting, I introduced then Mayor, Michael Coleman, who spoke about the revitalization of downtown Columbus and our Brokerage's efforts to help close the "dead zone" between German Village and the then very new Nationwide Arena/Arena District area. The ribbon cutting was on the local news, as well. My, how our city has come along in 20 years!" Amy Osborn - Vice President
"20 years ago I was a single girl loving life as a land developer with my real estate mentor, Frank Cipriano, at Land Network in Columbus, OH where I had been since 1994. The economy was on a roll, we could not sell land fast enough, and the people that worked in the business were amazing friends and mentors. I really gained a well-rounded knowledge of real estate. But the downturn in 2008 is what brought me to Alterra Real Estate where I helped Alterra build its third party property management business and I have continued to enjoy a successful life in real estate with our amazing Alterra team and clients since then!" Alisa Argust - Marketing
"20 Years ago I was in high school. Going to school full time, focusing on academics, wrestling and football." Jackson Pulliam - Commercial Sales and Leasing
"20 years ago this time I had recently obtained my Drivers License a few months prior. I was in the process of working on my first car 1997 Honda Accord, (Big Power 160 hp). That same year was my first racing event I volunteered at for the NHRA Drag Racing Spring Nationals in Hebron OH. Its amazing how fast 20 years can go by. I would imagine the next 20 years will Go by even faster. looking forward IN learning twice as much in the NEXT 20 years." David Coe - Commercial Sales and Leasing
"Teresa (my wife) and I were raising our 2 year old Luke (first of three boys) in our newly purchased home in the Gahanna/New Albany area. I gave up my tennis pro career and started my first “real” job as a financial/research analyst for a financial advisory firm, as I studied to get my Series 65 license." Wes Bishop - Commercial Sales and Leasing
"Twenty years ago I met my husband and was working at a small brokerage trying out the leasing/sales side of commercial real estate. I was not a fan! Shortly thereafter I went back to property management and began working in the management office at Easton. While I have been in property management for more than the last 20 years, my life sure has changed since then, but one husband and three kids later, working for a company and with people that I love, I wouldn’t change a thing!" Amy Petruskevich/Director Property Management
"20 Years ago I was 23 years old and working in the banking industry as a proof operator in Huntington, WV, which is where I acquired my fast typing skills that I have today. Little did I know I would find out I was pregnant that year with my now 17 year old son, Ryan! Time sure does fly by!" Martha Napalo - Executive Admin/Marketing Coordinator
The gift that keeps on giving - A shoutout to Alterra from Columbus Humane Society
Visit their website link below for adoption information, volunteer opportunities or to donate!
REAL MEN LOVE CATS
Reflecting back to 2010 for a couple of videos Alterra put together in partnership with Capital Area Humane Society, now known as Columbus Humane.
3 EASTON OVAL
Columbus, OH
Lease Rate: $25.95 psf Gross
- Highly visible Easton gateway location directly off I-270
- 91,249 SF, Class A - 5 story office building
- Building signage opportunities - visibility on I-270 up to 158,000 + vehicles per day
- Redundant fiber and electric with “Clean Power” for no downtime; data center infrastructure in place
- 286 surface parking spaces and 20 climate controlled underground spaces
- Fully updated building common areas, new building mechanicals and roof
- 5 minute walk to Easton Town Center with abundance of retail, services, restaurants and entertainment venues
- Located on 7 acre Easton Oval park for walking opportunities
- 2.5 miles to John Glenn International Airport
3705 MARLANE DR
Grove City, OH
SALES PRICE: $3,395,000
LEASE RATE: $14.95 psf Net
- 25,232 SF on 3.77 acres
- Well maintained single story, freestanding property visible to freeway and over 103,000 AVPD
- Single or multi user building - property can be divided for up to 3 tenants
- Built in 1965, expanded and renovated in 2002
- The property is currently used as a call center - furniture and phones are in place and are negotiable
- Laid out with perimeter offices, conference room, training room, fitness area with showers, large break room. High ceilings throughout, with some drop ceilings as well as open architecture 12' to deck
- The building has more power than typical for an office building - single and 3 phase
- Less than 1/2 mile to Stringtown Road entrance/exit to I-71
3854 FISHER RD
Columbus, OH
SALES PRICE: $2,995,000
- 34, 228 SF on 3.1 acres
- Meticulously maintained warehouse or manufacturing property
- Single or multi user building with 2 separate entrances
- Built in 1986, expanded in 2001
- 6 truck docks and 2 drive-in doors (12' x 14')
- Fully fenced except front visitor parking; parking and storage on paved areas as well as rear portion with compacted gravel
- Rear lot is suitable for 10,000 - 15,000 SF additional building
- Less than 1 mile to I-70 and I-270 freeway entrances
614.365.9000
Investment Properties Columbus Ohio – Office Flex and Retail
Alterra News
Alterra worked jointly with Ohio Commercial Real Estate to secure this sale!
Alterra Real Estate’s 3 Easton Oval project is improving air quality and benefitting from the Ohio Air Quality Development Agency’s programs! Check out the article below!
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10 of the Highest Commercial Sales of 2020
Columbus, Ohio Area
300-500 Phillipi Road - Big Lots
$750 Million Multi-Property Portfolio
3701 Governors Club Blvd
$128,000,000 Asking - Sale Price Undisclosed
2900 Easton Square Place
Tenant - Abbott Labs
Sold 3/17/2020 - $65,723,600
2829 - 2869 Rohr Road
Sold 7/15/2020 - $62,683,000
65 E State Street
Sold 10/23/2020 - $36,800,000
3538 TradePort Court
Sold 8/21/2020 - $34,908,711
2330 Sawmill Place Blvd
Sold 6/17/2020 - $34,711,458
2350 Sawmill Place Blvd
Sold 6/17/2020 - $34,094,141
2390 Harper Isabelle - Graham Park
Sold 6/17/2020 - $33,194,101
3657 TradePort Court
Sold 8/21/2020 - $24,476,602