20 North Plains Industrial Road, Wallingford
A venture that trains young gymnasts from across the state has agreed to lease 8,275 square feet of space at 20 North Plains Industrial Road in Wallingford.
The Connecticut Gymnastics Academy, which opened its doors Sept. 18, has agreed to a long-term lease with Elm City NPI Assoc. of Hamden, according to Frederick Petrella, president and founder of the New Haven-based Connecticut Realty Group, which brokered the deal. The academy will occupy part of a 60,000-square-foot, multi-tenant building.
Connecticut Gymnastics Academy, operated by gymnastics veterans Brock and Roberta Freehling, offers after-school gymnastics programs for youngsters from age 6 to high school, as well as preschool classes, private lessons and tumbling classes. The academy also offers a competitive program.
“When Brock explained the type of space he was looking for, I immediately thought of this building,” Petrella said. “We’ve got listings throughout the area and can almost always find something that meets the client’s needs. If not, we’ve got the resources and contacts to track down what they need.”
Brock Freehling, who had previously operated a program in Durham and was involved with a similar facility in Southington, said the couple began looking in May to open its own facility in central Connecticut. During their search, they contacted Petrella.
“Fred was great to work with,” Freehling said. “We needed a facility that had pretty high ceilings and had pretty large square footage. With gymnastics, you’re really dictated by the size of the building. We also liked the location. That was really key. We have a lot of kids who travel throughout the state.”
Connecticut Realty Group offers a range of real estate advisory and brokerage services to commercial and industrial clients and investors. Founded in 1993, the firm specializes in commercial and industrial real estate marketing, analysis services for investors in commercial properties, and relocation and real estate advisory services for clients looking to lease, acquire or dispose of property.
Petrella, who has more than 21 years of experience in Connecticut’s commercial and industrial marketplaces, also holds the CCIM Institute’s Certified Commercial Investment Member designation, a certification held by only 6 percent of North America’s estimated 8,000 commercial real estate professionals.
Konover Acquires Hotels
West Hartford-based Konover Hotel Corp. recently acquired a portfolio of 15 hotels in the Midwest from Focus Hospitality Services of Valparaiso, Ind. An affiliate of Focus is remaining in the deal as a joint venture partner of Konover Hotel Corp., which will manage the hotels.
The portfolio comprises 15 limited service hotels built within the last six years totaling 1,103 guest rooms. The hotels are franchised primarily with the Holiday Inn Express and Hampton Inn brands, and they are strategically located at key interstate highway locations and also in areas with strong corporate and tourist/leisure business.
“Konover’s goal was to strategically grow their hotel portfolio, particularly by establishing a presence in the Midwest, and this acquisition supports our mission,” said Peter H. Mason, vice president of Konover Hotel Corp. “These hotels represent high-profile brands and market leaders in their areas, and they complement our existing portfolio.”
With this acquisition, Konover Hotel’s portfolio now includes 20 hotels in five states, including the Sheraton Hotel at Bradley International Airport in Windsor Locks.
Konover Hotel Corp. acquires, develops and manages hotels and hospitality properties throughout the United States for affiliated and third-party owners. Its mixed portfolio includes franchised and independent limited and full-service hotels and exposition facilities. Konover Hotel Corp. is a division of Konover Properties Corp. and a member of the Simon Konover Cos.
