Hello 2012!

As we begin the new year of 2012 we want to wish all a happy and prosperous new year. Thank you to our many clients, tenants and vendors for their support and confidence in GPE Management Services. We are optimistic that there will be an improvement in the national economy as well as locally here in Arizona. There are many promising signs that 2012 will begin an upward trend in our market. We at GPE Management Services will continue to work with all of our clients in an effort to be proactive in our fiduciary duties. GPE endeavours to make sure that all our properties are running efficiently and as cost effectively as possible.

Many years ago, Will Rogers said that Alexander Hamilton started the US treasury with nothing, and that was the closest our country has ever been to being even. It is a good thing that Mr. Rogers isn't with us today, who knows what he might say about the current state of our economy. But he also said buy land; they ain't making any more of the stuff. He was right then and he would be right today.

Traditionally in the US, Valentine’s Day is celebrated on February 14th as a day to send poems, notes, gifts, candy, cards and flowers to loved ones.

A multi million dollar renovation project lasting several months just wrapped up at Talavi Tech Center located at 5551 W. Talavi Boulevard, Glendale. Kudos go out to the owners, West Coast Capital Partners, and the contractor, WESPAC for their insight and hard work in this complicated project.

The Turanor PlanetSolar is a 95 ton catamaran that is a sun-powered ship. It is trying to become the first solar ship to go around the world. The ship cost $17.5 million dollars and is demonstrating clean energy travel. There are 825 solar panels which can generate up to 83.5 kilowatts. This could become a “hot” new idea for sailing.

- Becky Bishop, LEED Green Associate, Assistant Property Manager

January is a good time to remind GPE’s tenants of the procedure for maintenance and emergency issues:

24/7 Maintenance and Emergency answering service.

If you have a maintenance issue or an issue the landlord is responsible for or a building emergency situation, you can call GPE’s 24 hour answering service at (480) 303-1258.

Fuzion Fitness Arrowhead had their grand opening party on Saturday, January 21st at the Citadelle in Glendale.  The first 100 people in the door got exercise bands to help them keep their new year resolutions.  There were many other prizes given out at the party including a Stellar Adventures Tour, $50 worth of Sandbar bucks, one month of free tanning at Planet Beach and much more.

Please help us welcome our newest tenant at the Citadelle!

The Pink Heals Tour rolled through Glendale on Saturday, November 12th, 2011. The Pink Heals Tour takes place all around the country bringing their pink fire trucks in support of the fight against breast cancer by donating to local charities in that state. Their motto is "Care Enough to Wear Pink - Driving for Cancer. Driving Awareness. Driving across America".

The Melting Pot restaurant invited them and hosted the event encouraging the other businesses at The Citadelle to participate. When you notice the pink t-shirts, keep in mind that purchasing them keeps the fire trucks on their mission.

GPE Companies is proud to announce that Becky Bishop, Assistant Property Manager, has earned the designation of LEED Green Associate.

GPE Management Services 2nd edition of Property Perspectives

In our last newsletter we hinted at a very special new character that was coming our way. The anticipation has been killing us! But today we are happy to introduce our new mascot, the GPE Tiger! But we need your help finding the perfect name for him.

The year was 1974 and the population of Scottsdale was approximately 65,000 people. Scottsdale Road saw very little, if any, traffic after 9 PM. Scottsdale was known, at that time, as the West most Western town. Bill Jenkins was the Mayor and the Memorial Professional Building, as it was known then, was newly finished. It sits on the southwest corner of Miller and Osborn roads.

Yardi Voyager is the software of choice for GPE Management Services as it provides the most comprehensive set of management and accounting tools for commercial real estate. All leases are uploaded into the software with tracking of lease dates, rental amounts, and contact information.

How is accounting vital to property management? When we think of accounting, a sea of numbers and monthly financial reports are typically what come to mind. From a property management standpoint, however, accounting has always been the key to a property owner making smart fiscal business decisions. This is the real reason I enjoy accounting; in some ways, I am able to help people see those business decisions through with the experience and knowledge that accounting has offered.

Summer in Arizona brings heat, humidity and an overwhelming desire for parking under the shade of a covered parking space.

At most commercial buildings GPE manages, permanent covered parking is available to tenants through a clause in their lease which specifies the number of spaces allocated to a particular suite.

It has been found that employees who work in certain buildings may miss work due to being sick while other buildings have a relatively low record of the employees missing work due to being sick. Many experts refer to this as the “Sick Building Syndrome”. This can be contributed to the indoor environmental quality which can be defined by the indoor air quality, thermal comfort, lighting, and acoustics.

Please take a minute to review your lease requirements for Certificates of Insurance.

GPE Management Services inaugural edition of Property Perspectives!

It is our hope and desire that this quarterly newsletter will enlighten, educate, edify and entertain all the readers it touches and provides a glimpse into the property management industry. We also hope to provide some insight into how current market conditions affect landlords and tenants and how current changes in laws or the news may impact the decisions you make.

Converting existing buildings designed for a specific purpose to another use is not always feasible from an economic standpoint. At times, such a situation does present itself. One such project GPE Management Services is responsible for is The Citadelle Plaza in Glendale, Arizona. This retail center, once in bankruptcy, and acquired last year has been converted to a combination of uses besides retail. There is now medical and general office component added to the project which has gone from less than 59% occupancy to nearly 72% projected occupancy in just over one year in a downtown market.

(480) 303-1258 is the telephone number for GPE Management Services’ 24 hour answering service for tenant maintenance and emergency needs.  GPE Management Services takes great pride in responding quickly and efficiently to tenant service calls and here is how our system works:

Some simple tips to help you live a more "green" lifestyle.  From home water conservation to a green roof.

Have you changed your alarm code lately?  Changed your cell number?  Replaced one of the emergency contacts we have on file?

The key word for the use of a fire extinguisher is "PASS". For proper use of a fire extinguisher, you first stand about 8' from the fire, then...

The first quarter of 2011 has been an active one for GPE’s Construction Management team with over 45,000 sq. ft. of new tenant improvement construction as well as multiple capital improvement jobs on properties on which GPE handles leasing and property management responsibilities.